Why does back to school feel so different this year?
In this episode of Shrinking it Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Khadijah take on five worries shaping the 2026 school year: classmates missing amid immigration enforcement, the Meta–Instagram settlement and proposed limits on kids' social media use, economic stress and uncertainty about life after high school, measles outbreaks and vaccine misinformation, and climate anxiety. They share how parents can start honest, age-appropriate conversations — asking what kids are noticing, listening without judgment, and being genuine about what they can and can't promise — and why family stories can help build resilience.
Practical guidance for any parent, caregiver, or educator helping kids carry worries they can't always put into words.
Tune in now!
Media List
Episode music by Gene Beresin
Episode produced by Masha Mesyef
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