Blog

We want to recognize that October 10 is World Mental Health Day, a global effort to raise awareness of mental health issues, which aligns closely with the recent focus on suicide prevention during September's Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

This year Aspen Academy is so happy to celebrate 11 Aspen Academy students who recently attended the STAMP (Students Taking Action and Making Progress) Conference, a remarkable event bringing middle school students from across the greater Denver area together to focus on fostering inclusion, leadership, and social change. This annual conference offers middle school students a unique opportunity to explore important issues in a safe and supportive environment while equipping them with the tools needed to build more inclusive and responsive communities.

This week, as we begin Part 3 of The Anxious Generation, we explore Chapter 5: "The Four Basic Harms." In this pivotal chapter, Jonathan Haidt discusses the profound impacts that digital technologies—especially smartphones and social media—have on the mental health and development of children and adolescents.

This week in our exploration of The Anxious Generation, we delve into Chapter 4: "Puberty and the Blocked Transition to Adulthood." This chapter explores the developmental challenges adolescents face as they navigate the complex journey through puberty in today's society.

Jess Cho and the Neuro-Affinity Group have organized a week-long initiative through Creating S.P.A.C.E., aimed at making these important conversations more accessible and comfortable. Join us on October 18th from 4:00-5:00 PM for a parent education night, and encourage your 3rd - 8th grade students to actively participate in the one-week program from October 21st - 25th during Leadership and Academies. Each day will focus on a core theme that embodies S.P.A.C.E.: Storytelling, Permission, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Education.

Continuing our exploration of The Anxious Generation, this week we delve into Chapter 3: "Discover Mode and the Need for Risky Play." This chapter builds upon the previous discussion on the importance of play by emphasizing how taking risks during play is crucial for healthy child development.

For middle school students, our half days on Fridays just took an exciting turn. New this year, our Academies foster camaraderie and create a contagious excitement for students and teachers alike through a series of LiFE challenges.

Last week, you read about the "The Surge of Suffering" in our youth, uncovering the rising trends in mental health issues and their potential causes. This week, we delve into Chapter 2 of The Anxious Generation, titled "What Children Need to Do in Childhood," where Jonathan Haidt emphasizes the critical role of play in child development.

Last week, we introduced Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation and discussed how dramatically different the world our children are growing up in compares to our own experiences. This week, we delve into the first chapter, "The Surge of Suffering," which outlines the alarming rise in mental health issues among youth and the factors contributing to this crisis.

We're excited to introduce our next educational journey—a deep dive into Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation. This insightful work explores the profound challenges shaping today's youth, examining the effects of rapid technological and societal changes on child and adolescent development.