STUDENT HABITS, LEADER HACKS EDUCATORS LEARN WELLNESS FROM STUDENTS, TOO
Every day, principals guide students through laughter, angst, drama, and everything in between. But if you look closely, students are modeling wellness strategies of their own—ones school leaders could benefit from too. The giggles in kindergarten remind us to laugh more. The reinvention of middle schoolers shows us the power of starting fresh. And the rituals of high school students prove that even small routines can calm the system.
MIDDLE SCHOOL METHODS Middle school is full of angst and eye-rolls, but even that chaos comes with wellness tips if you look closely: • FEEL IT, NAME IT: Middle schoolers wear their emotions on their sleeves. Naming feelings reduces stress for adults too. • REINVENTION RIGHTS: One week it’s theater, the next week sports. Leaders can borrow that flexibility: if something’s not working, switch it up. • CLIQUE CONNECTION: Students find “their people” to feel secure. Principals need trusted circles too; colleagues and CPAA peers who get it. • DRAMA = ENERGY: Teens thrive on drama because it gives them a rush. Adults can redirect that with novels, podcasts, or guilty-pleasure shows. Middle school teaches us that change, connection, and even a little drama can be healthy when channeled well.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WISDOM Spend five minutes in a kindergarten classroom and you’ll see kids practicing wellness without even knowing it. Their habits may look messy, but they’re packed with lessons for grown-ups too: • GIGGLE THERAPY: Kindergartners laugh hundreds of times a day. Adults? Maybe 20. Borrow their secret and laugh more often. • RECESS RESET: Movement every couple hours boosts mood and focus. Principals need recess too. • SECRET KEEPER: Kids spill their secrets, then skip away unfazed. Share a worry with a colleague, then let it go. • SNACK TIME SCIENCE: Small, frequent snacks keep energy steady. A desk snack drawer is principal-level wellness. Sometimes the youngest learners are the best teachers—especially when it comes to joy, movement, and letting things go.
16 • CPAA MAGAZINE | OCT 2025
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