School year stress

The 2020-21 school year was excruciatingly difficult for many families. Kids who relied on structure and routine suddenly found themselves with uncertain school schedules or the pressures of attending class virtually.

A Challenge Success/NBC News nationwide study of high school students found that 56% reported an increase in stress about school after the pandemic started. By the fall of 2020, nearly 61% of students reported that workload and homework were major sources of stress.

Stress was a factor in my household as well. Guiding three elementary-aged children through year-long virtual learning was a daunting feat. Some days were refreshing, others ended in tears. Our children made it through with a lot of compassion, outdoor time, and extra support from my wife and me.

I also need to credit the library for some of that success. The digital resources we were able to access with our Capital Area District Libraries account were very helpful. For example, my technology-curious child loved

Treading eBooks using the Libby app, and his skills improved immensely. There’s no doubt that kids will need a lot of resources when they head back to the classroom this year. One that I often recommend is Tutor.com, a free service that connects students with live online tutors in real time. Any student with a CADL Student Success card can access Tutor.com. Find a link—and many other educational resources—at cadl.org/learn.

Jeff Antaya is the Head Librarian at Capital Area District Libraries’ Leslie branch.