Let's play a true or false game.

I'll give you three statements about me and school, and you have to guess which one is false.

Okay, let's do it then.

My first statement is I'm very good at English.

My second statement is the school elevator broke down while I was inside it.

And my third statement is I walk to school every day.

Okay, so I know the you're good at English.

That's true.

We've talked about this many times.

You might walk to school.

But the elevator, I'm not sure.

But also, the school elevators aren't the best.

But I feel like you're trying to trick me, and that sounds believable, so I'm gonna go with that you walk to school every day.

That's the false one.

Mhmm.

You're right.

I do not walk to school every day.

Welcome to this episode of "More childhood, please.®" A show by kids, for kids.

By now, you probably know that this show is part of Akron Children's mission to help you make the most of your time as a kid.

Yep.

That's why we share fun ideas, challenges, and ways to spend time with friends and family.

Now, could you guess what this episode is about from our game?

It's school.

We're going to explore what makes school interesting, what makes it challenging, and of course, we're going to have some fun.

This is "School Life."

Rhys, do you remember the last time you started at a new school?

It's been a few years, but I remember being really excited, but also really nervous.

What about you?

I was not excited.

My new school meant that I had to wake up an hour earlier.

Plus, the campus was way bigger.

Oh, that sounds like a lot.

Yeah.

We all have to switch schools at some point, and we wanted to find ways to make it easier.

So we asked a high school media club what it was like for this year's freshmen to start at their new school.

They're going to share their experiences and offer advice on how they got used to this new school.

This is "Starting Fresh."

What was it like to start as a high schooler?

Starting high school was a very new experience for me.

It was something really different from what I came from.

And I was scared.

And it was like nerve-racking at first, but then it kind of, like, went away when I started just, like, going through the flow with things.

The first day of school for freshmen was also the first day, or our first game for football.

It was an away game.

I've never played high school football, especially at a varsity level.

It was just very nerve-racking.

I've definitely got lost.

Like the first month of school, even though it don't seem like it's that big, sometimes it just it could just be confusing just navigating the hallways and stuff.

Were there any challenges you had to overcome?

Meeting new people and being around unfamiliar faces.

It was very, like, different for me.

Like, I'm not used to that.

Getting used to the workload and the stress of high school.

Some challenges were definitely adjusting to the pace of high school because everything is so much faster and adjusting to the community.

But getting into things really just helped me open up.

How did you overcome these challenges?

By just staying focused and not feeding into any distractions.

Probably just meeting new people, talking to people about it and getting information from my older peers.

I would say just like take some breathers, like, especially if you have like a lot of friends, like, try to be by their side and, like, talk to them about it or talk to like a guidance counselor about it.

What was the one thing that helped you most in making new friends in high school?

The thing that helped me the most was definitely being involved in the theater program because it just helped my personality grow.

It helped me meet so many new people.

It helped me to become a mentor to those who were younger than me, and it just created a whole new community for me.

Honestly, doing orchestra because I met a lot of, like, upper, like, classmen and they just made it seem like so much, like, fun.

I made friends with a lot of people.

People I'd never met before.

But since I'm in sports, I got the opportunity to meet them.

Especially track it just, you know, all the locker room moments, all the locker room talks and stuff, were just very hilarious and a good way to bond with my teammates.

Do you still have your friends from eighth grade school year or no?

Yes.

I always try to keep in touch with them.

Those are who made me today, basically.

I wouldn't be here without them.

I came into high school with a few that I really didn't want to lose, and I decided that I was going to make sure that I kept those through high school, because it's always nice to have someone by your side.

Do you have any advice for people who might struggle having or maintaining friendships?

Just surround yourself around people that you feel safe with or like people who are kind to you and, like, just remain nice.

I would always say get into things.

Get out there in the world.

Get your name down on a piece of paper somewhere and get to know people.

Some of the biggest worries for students as they transition to a new school are their peer relationships.

Ensuring they maintain friendships and form new ones is important for their mental well-being.

What do you look forward most at being a sophomore?

I look forward to continuing to have some great friendships.

I look forward to teaching and giving advice to those who are coming up into Brush High School.

We just saw how students can navigate situations in a new school.

But whether you're in elementary school, middle school or high school, there's always something that can make you feel stressed or anxious.

Those feelings can be hard to deal with.

I've been stressed before taking tests, questioning, did I study enough?

What if I don't do well?

Will my grades suffer?

Or before a school play.

It's easy to get stage fright or feel really nervous.

These are common for a lot of kids, so we wanted to get a few tips on how we can manage those feelings and go in to tests or performances with some confidence.

We asked an expert from Akron Children's to help us out.

Hi.

Hi, I'm Doctor Bilge-Johnson.

I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

And I hear that we are talking about stress and anxiety at school today.

Yep.

We don't want tests, quizzes, performances or concerts to make us stressed.

But how do we do that?

It's a great question, Rhys.

I help a lot of kids with anxiety and stress.

The first thing I say is it's okay to feel that way.

We don't have to avoid those feelings or pretend we don't have them, because if we cannot address our feelings, then we cannot accept them and work on them.

Okay, because I can admit I have stress.

But now what?

Now we will walk through different ways we can manage it.

The first tip is to have a healthy body and healthy mind.

That means eating well, getting enough sleep so you're ready to cope with stress.

For eating, we want a healthy dinner, breakfast - protein, vegetables, fruits and to get the right fuel for your body.

And for sleep.

It's good to have a minimum of 8 to 9 hours of sleep.

And the most important part is cut out the electronics before going to bed.

Oh ... um.

Well, how long before bed do we need to put away our screens and electronics?

Minimum 30 minutes to an hour so that your brain can get a chance to wind down.

All right.

Okay.

Just wondering, just asking for a friend.

What would happen if you stayed on your screen right up until bed?

That's a great question, Rhys.

Then our brain will not get a chance to wind down, and it will be up for a longer time.

Which means you will have less sleep than you need.

Another way to relieve stress is with square breathing.

This method helps us to slow our breathing.

That slows our heart rate.

And when our heart rate is slow, our brain also gets calm.

So it can perform the best way.

There are four parts, just like four sides of a square.

We breathe in for 4 seconds.

We hold it for, for our breath, for 4 seconds.

we exhale for 4 seconds.

And then we hold for 4 seconds.

And then we'll repeat it again.

Okay.

Would you like to practice?

Sure.

Okay.

Let's start.

So breathe in for 4 seconds.

Hold it for 4 seconds.

Exhale for 4 seconds.

Hold it for 4 seconds.

Inhale for 4 seconds.

Hold it for 4 seconds.

Exhale for 4 seconds.

Great job.

That is a really good one.

Are there any other tips that we should know?

The third tip I want to share with you is using positive self-talk.

Practicing or studying is of course important to prepare, but if we can add a positive talk, self-talk, that can change really how we think.

And it can help with recalling information because when you are thinking positive, you will feel better emotionally and that will help your brain to really absorb that information.

And you can remember really well.

So while studying or practicing, instead of thinking, oh, I cannot do this.

Try saying, "I will do my best."

I'm going to use these next time I have a math test coming up.

And I'm going to use this next time I have a school play.

Those are great ideas.

And you can use it with anything that creates stress for us.

Thank you, Doctor Bilge-Johnson.

We've loved having you.

Thank you for having me.

See you later.

See you later.

Those sounded like some helpful tips.

Wouldn't it be great to hear from kids on how well they work?

Absolutely.

Let's watch what happens when these tips about managing stress are put to the test.

We're going to see some kids try these tips on something they're anxious or stressed about.

They'll report back to us on how well the tips worked.

This is "The Stress Test."

Hi, my name is Ella.

I'm a junior in high school and a stressful event coming up for me is my exams.

So I'm going to focus on the stress tip that tells you to eat a well-balanced meal the night before with carbs, protein and vegetables, get eight hours of sleep the night before and cut off electronics one hour before I go to bed.

Hi guys.

It is 6:30 the night before my exams and I am eating dinner.

I'm having green beans, chicken parm and some spaghetti.

Just trying to get a well-balanced meal the night before.

All right.

It is 9 p.m.

I just set my alarms.

I'm going to turn my phone off, plug it in across the room and then go to bed at 10.

So I have an hour without my phone before I fall asleep.

I just got to school.

I ended up falling asleep around 10:00 last night, so I got around nine hours of sleep.

And then this morning I had a protein muffin for breakfast.

I'm feeling good to go.

I'm feeling energized and ready to take my exams.

I just got back from my exams and I feel pretty confident about them.

I feel like they went well.

I was focused throughout all of them and I felt well prepared.

Hi, my name is Melora McMillin and I am 13 years old.

I'm going to have to present a project that I'm kind of worried and stressed about, but I think with the tip of positive self-talk, it will help me a lot to improve my speech in front of other people and feel more confident in a lot of other things.

Let's see how it goes.

This is my positive self-talk.

I can do this.

I've done it before.

I'm very smart.

And it will be done before I even know it.

I've done it before.

I'm very smart.

I'm going to nail this presentation.

And my material is really good.

During my presentation today, I think I did really well because the tips really helped me out a lot.

Even though I was feeling really stressed and anxious before, I think that the tips helped by saying kind words to myself like, "You got this, the presentation isn't that big of a deal."

And they were right about that, because I think I over-assumed that it would be really bad, but it really wasn't.

And I did real good.

It was cool to see those tips put to the test.

Mhmm.

I'll have to use them next time I'm feeling stressed.

Well, are you ready for a test of our own?

Please tell me it's not math.

Okay, it's not math, I promise it's not math.

This is a fun one.

We asked students to take a poll about some school topics.

Rhys and I are going to answer the questions, too.

And we'll see how the students voted as we go through each question.

Sounds like fun.

Let's do it.

Okay.

First question: What is the best lunch sandwich?

PB&J, ham, turkey or grilled cheese?

Definitely grilled cheese because you can get it all, like, crispy.

And it feels so, like, warm and, like, cozy.

Mine probably has to be ham.

Really?

Yeah.

All right.

Let's see the next question.

What is the best recess game?

Four square, tag, jump rope and kickball.

Kickball.

I got to say kickball because, you know, you get to run around, throw stuff around, tag people.

It's a, it's a combination of almost all of those on there.

I think jump rope is the best, personally.

Those hurt.

Not my favorite one.

Well, ready for question three?

Yes.

What is the best place to hang out in school?

The library, the principal's office, the gym or the playground?

Definitely the playground.

The gym is a really good one for me.

Yeah.

That's true.

I like the swings though.

Swings are good.

So as you can sit and swing.

Bleachers, too.

That's true.

And our last question.

What is the most fun class?

Art, gym, computer or music?

I would have to say music.

I really like art because you can, like, we're doing pottery so you can make little pots.

Ohhhh.

Yes.

Art is such a great class.

Okay, we know about kids' favorite sandwiches, but there's more to school than those topics.

We really wanted to know what kids find fun or interesting about school, so we asked kids to tell us about their favorite parts.

For me, it's lunch.

But I also like the after-school programs like jazz band and student council.

I love art and history class and after-school naps.

Those are good.

Now let's see what other kids like.

This is "What's Cool About School."

My favorite part about school is music because it brings people together.

I've been in two music concerts and I played the drums before.

Hi, I'm Paxton and I'm 7 years old.

I'm in first grade and I love PE.

My favorite game to play in PE is soccer.

My favorite subject is art, because I like to get messy and use my creative skills to make art.

I like the social aspect of it.

I like hanging out with my friends, you know, sharing the experience of high school with them.

I love math so much.

I like reading because it just, like, takes my mind away.

I feel like I'm part of the story.

My name is Mia.

My teacher's Mrs.

Maione and she, she, she, she teach me writing my name.

I like the playground because you can play lots of fun things, like, you can play with your friends, go on slides, monkey bars.

It's so fun.

I really like making new friends and being able to build connections with them all throughout the school year.

They're the best.

My favorite part about being homeschooled is that I get to be with my mom all day, and I love being out in the forest and learning about animal science and trees and all kinds of nature.

My favorite part of school is my teacher and my friends.

I love school so much.

Hi, my name is Josie.

I'm 4 years old.

I'm about to be in kindergarten.

Why I love school is because I could play with my friends and do circle time.

And I love when I color and make cards for my friends.

Could enjoying school help you complete more years of it?

Yes.

Enjoying school at a young age, like 6 years old, is associated with completing higher levels of education.

Rhys, let's pretend you don't understand something in math class.

Okay, I can do that.

And you have to write a paper for history.

Been there.

And you have to study for a test.

But your parents don't know the math concept, and the house is too noisy.

What do you do?

Can I kick everyone out of the house?

Probably not.

Oh, I could go to the library.

The one near me always has quiet spaces.

Yes, and that's where our next segment takes place.

Public libraries have quiet places to study, tutoring programs, and a lot more to help kids learn and grow outside of school hours.

Right.

Books aren't the only thing you can get into at the library.

Let's see what they have to offer.

This is "After-School Special."

Welcome to the Cuyahoga County Public Library system.

My name is Steve Haynie.

I'm the Branch Manager here at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch.

Why don't you come on in and join me?

Let's see what we got going on today.

How's it going, guys?

Good.

Good.

Libraries can be an extension of schools as we continue to help kids learn and grow.

We are truly centers for lifelong learning.

My favorite space in the library is probably an area we call the homework center.

It's somewhere we can go throughout the day to go and get our homework done and get help on it, just in case we need it.

My favorite thing about the library is how they give you the books that you - that your opinion is actually on.

Like, if you recommend a certain book that you read before they give you a book that I actually really, really like.

So libraries also provide basic and essential resources that some people may not have at home, like Wi-Fi, computers and free snacks.

We have a great partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which provides summer lunches for kids as well as during the school year we have what we call Kids Cafe, which provides meals after school.

I love that there's, like, a ton of new programs.

You can do, like, braiding.

You could do like with robots and stuff like that.

So we have programs for kids of all ages.

For younger kids, we've got storytimes and arts and crafts programs.

And our older kids, we have book clubs and STEAM programs.

We've recently got into culinary cooking for kids, which has turned out to be a really hot spot and a hot flavor.

Welcome back to week three of "Cooking with the Roubideaux's."

And this week our focus is on lunch.

Does everyone have a cutting board?

Yes.

So Chef Jenisis is going to go ahead and get us started.

Go ahead Chef Jenisis.

When my plate is based, my body feels strong.

So we have a recording studio which allows kids to kind of drop some beats, talk, maybe even do podcasts.

You have to be at least 10 years old to take the orientation.

But we are working towards programs for kids younger so they can engage, as well.

We have our memory lab, which is one of our innovation spaces.

This is a space where you can learn new technology and create new things.

We have tools that can print on fabrics, mugs and more.

This is a busy room, and it offers kids a chance to learn and practice new skills.

What we're using today is called a direct-to-garment printer.

It's gonna print like you would print on a piece of paper, but instead, it's gonna print right onto our bag.

You could do a shirt, you could do socks, you could do a baby onesie.

Now, what I want you to help me with, Jordan is getting all this material tucked underneath the tray.

Okay.

Perfect.

So that's going to be the area that we print on.

Okay?

Perfect.

The cool thing about libraries is that it offers something for everyone.

Every kid who comes through our doors can find something that they love.

My favorite part about the library is independence.

After school, I can, like, come here and relax and socialize with my friends.

We're able to have this as an after-school hangout spot.

And we have access to free activities.

They have an open field and a big area for kids to play tag.

I like playing tag with my friends outside, and I like playing the games and I like hanging out with them.

My favorite part about the library is seeing my friends and playing with them.

I like books and seeing my friends.

They give us snacks and sandwiches after school.

My favorite space in the library is the teen area.

The gaming area.

By the computers.

The book section.

They have good decorations everywhere.

And they also - it's also near my house, so I can go there, like, daily.

We do all these different arts and crafts.

We're making jewelry, paintings, bracelets, all that stuff.

I love the books that's at the library.

I see my friends and I see the people that work here, and they're really nice to me.

And they're really comforting.

And I just love this library so much.

It's just really fun here.

Libraries are a great resource that provide kids with the opportunities to learn and grow.

If you'd like to find out what your local library has to offer, just come on in.

Get a library card.

We'd love to show you around.

Welcome back.

We're going to kick off our last segment by playing a game, and we have Doctor Malik from Akron Children's to help us out.

Welcome.

Hi!

Thanks for having me.

Are you two ready for a little game?

Yeah.

Okay.

Kids get asked this question every day by their parents.

Your job is to take turns guessing what the five most common answers are.

Here's the question: How was school today?

And go!

Lily?

Fine.

All right.

That's correct.

Rhys?

It was okay.

That's also another one of them.

Lily?

I don't know.

Third answer there.

Rhys?

Meh.

That's not up there, but that's a good answer.

Lily?

Interesting.

That's not up there.

Okay.

You guys are missing "good" and "boring."

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

All right.

All right.

Good work.

Have you ever said those answers to your parents?

Yeah, a lot.

Definitely.

When they ask you, "How was your day?"

does it sound like they're asking who you talked to, or if something was funny or if you felt prepared for a test?

No.

It just sounds like how they - It just sounds like they're trying to ask me if it was good or bad.

Okay.

So really, your parents need to ask more specific questions about your day.

Right?

Mhmm.

For example, Rhys, what is the name of one of your friends?

Brandon.

Okay.

Did you sit with Brandon at lunch today?

I did.

Who had the better snack and why?

I would say me because I had a Rice Krispie treat and he had nothing.

Oh, that's not a good snack at all.

No, no, no.

And, Lily, what was the best thing that happened to you in school this week?

The best thing that happened in school this week is that I finally got to go back and see my friends after being gone for so long.

So I got to catch up with them.

That's great.

So it sounds like you had a really good week so far.

Yeah.

Okay, perfect.

Did you see how those questions were a little bit more specific?

Yeah.

When parents ask broad questions, it's asking you to think over your entire day and to find something you think your parent wants to know about.

That's hard after a long day at school, right?

Yeah.

That's why parents need to ask questions based on what they know about your day.

That shows we're interested and that we help you focus on one specific topic or moment.

So here are some more questions that parents can ask their kids to get better answers and to get conversations going.

What was something funny that happened today?

Oh, I like that one.

Yeah.

Okay.

How would you answer that?

I would just think of, like, if I have any inside jokes with my friends and, like, talk about, like, just what happened.

Good.

Okay.

So another question parents could ask is, "What was a win for today, something you felt went really well?"

I can answer that one.

I feel like today during math class, we took a math test, and I think I did really well on that today.

That's great.

"Do you have any more questions about something you saw or heard today?"

Is that a good question for parents to ask?

Yeah.

Okay.

Maybe if they need some more help on something working.

Yeah.

So see how those questions were much better?

Yeah.

Thanks for walking through this exercise with me.

Remember, your parents want to know about your day because they care about you and want to know what's going on in your life.

Your happiness matters to them.

Oh, that makes sense.

Thank you for joining us, Doctor Malik.

Thank you so much for having me.

Yeah.

It was great.

It was fun.

Hi, girls.

Hi, mommy!

Hi, princess!

I had the best day ever!

Yay!

That's all we have for this episode of "More childhood, please.®" We hope you enjoyed this journey through school life.

We learned about managing stress, getting used to a new school, and what makes it fun.

We even learned some tips for having better discussions about school with our families.

And that Rhys is a big fan of grilled cheese.

So good!

If you have any ideas of what you'd like to see in an episode, message us on Facebook or Instagram.

Thanks for watching.

Bye.

I kind of want a sandwich now.

Let's go get one.

What's your favorite kind of bread?

I like sourdough.

What's yours?

Plain old white bread.