By Jay Briar

The start of a new school year is always a flurry of activity, from new classrooms and new teachers to new friendships and new challenges. It’s a time of fresh beginnings, but it’s also a time of significant transition for our children. As adults, we often frame this transition in terms of schedules, school supplies, and academic goals. But for a child, the experience can be much more nuanced, a complex landscape of emotions and social dynamics that they may not have the words to describe. This is where one of the most important skills we can possess as parents and educators comes into play: the ability to truly listen.

Listening to children is an art that goes beyond simply hearing the words they say. It means taking them seriously. Sometimes, that’s literal, but often it

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