As August begins and the 2025-2026 school year approaches, parents of teenagers have many things to consider ensuring their child is ready for school. Keeping youth from using tobacco and nicotine products might not seem as serious as other issues today. In fact, some parents may feel that smoking or other tobacco use is a “rite of passage” and that as kids get older, they will outgrow this

Many things can affect a student’s academic performance. The atmosphere in a classroom, life outside of school and interest in the material are just some of the variables that can affect how well students perform. But another variable that’s sometimes hard to identify also affects the performance of millions of students each year. The Learning Disabilities Association of America estimates

Preschool • Pronunciation problems • Difficulty finding the right word • Difficulty rhyming words • Trouble learning numbers, the alphabet, the days of the week, colors, and shapes • Difficulty concentrating • Trouble interacting with peers • Difficulty following directions or learning routines • Difficulty controlling pencils, crayons or scissors