National Center for Youth Issues

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National Center for Youth Issues

We help you help all kids. NCYI is a leading provider of award-winning educational resources, traini

06/08/2026

Kids need opportunities to struggle.

That can be hard for the adults who love them. Every instinct tells us to step in, smooth things over, and make the hard thing easier.

But resilience is built when children face challenges, work through frustration, and discover they can do more than they thought possible. Not overwhelming struggle without support—but manageable challenges with caring adults nearby.

When we solve every problem for children, we may remove the very experiences that help them build confidence, perseverance, and independence.

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do is stay close, offer encouragement, and let them discover their own strength.

06/06/2026

Behavior change doesn't start with better consequences—it starts with better understanding.

Positive Behavior Principles by Dan St. Romain offers practical, easy-to-implement strategies that help educators look beyond behavior and respond in ways that create lasting change. Filled with real-world insights and actionable ideas, this resource is a valuable addition to any educator's toolbox.

Learn more:
https://ncyi.org/product/positivebehaviorprinciples/

06/04/2026

Creating a truly inclusive space lives in the way we greet people, the language we use, the stories we tell, and the voices we make room for.

For educators and counselors, the spaces you create every day send a message to every person who walks into them. There is rarely a middle ground when someone is trying to figure out if they are safe enough to be themselves.

The small choices matter. The way we listen, respond, and welcome others can make all the difference in helping someone feel that they belong.

06/02/2026

Looking for a few great books to add to your shelf this summer?

Our June Book Sale is here, and these featured titles are just $8 each for a limited time.

Whether you're supporting healthy habits, building character, or creating meaningful conversations with children, there's something here to spark discussion and learning.

Shop the sale:
NCYI.org/sale

06/01/2026

June is here, bringing opportunities to celebrate, reflect, and support students in meaningful ways.

From National Safety Month and Pride Month to Children's Day, Juneteenth, Father's Day, and the first day of summer, June offers plenty of opportunities for conversations about identity, belonging, safety, history, family, and community.

Whether you're planning summer programs, preparing for the next school year, or looking for meaningful ways to connect with students and families, these key dates can help guide your month.

05/31/2026

Good values don't just happen. They are taught, modeled, practiced, and reinforced over and over in the ordinary moments of an ordinary day.

Children are not born knowing how to be kind when it's hard, how to stand up for someone who is treated unfairly, or how to sit with someone else's pain and let it matter. Those are learned skills. And the adults in their lives are the ones doing the teaching, whether they realize it or not.

This is both the weight and the privilege of the work. Every conversation about fairness, every moment of genuine empathy you model, every time you name what integrity looks like in real life, you are building something in that child that will outlast any lesson plan.

Character doesn't develop by accident. It develops because someone decided it was worth teaching.

05/29/2026

The goal isn’t to fix the feeling or rush past it. It’s to communicate one simple truth: you are not alone in this moment, and this moment is safe.

Sometimes children don’t need immediate solutions or more instructions. They need calm, steady presence. Simple phrases like these can help reduce pressure, create emotional safety, and open the door for connection.

Small words matter — especially in anxious moments.

05/28/2026

Are you looking for a ready-to-use small group counseling curriculum to help PK-3 students overcome separation anxiety and build confidence and independence at school?

The 30-Minute Groups: Separation Anxiety workbook will equip you with everything you need to do just that! Teach essential coping skills and SEL strategies in flexible 30-minute lessons for small group or classroom instruction in grades PK-3. It’s adaptable, requires minimal prep time, and is rooted in evidence-informed strategies that empower students to navigate transitions, manage big feelings, and face their fears with courage.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Six Complete Lessons with ASCA® standards
• Comprehensive Action Plan
• Permission and Completion Letters to send to caregivers
• Attendance Logs
• Pre- and Post-Assessments for program effectiveness
• Results Report to share with interested parties
• Downloadable resources and templates

Topics include goodbye rituals, morning routines, coping skills, and overcoming fears. The lessons and questions in this thoughtfully crafted resource are designed to help students understand and manage their emotions, learn calming techniques, and develop tools they can use to separate confidently from their caregivers and engage fully in school life.

Use the 30-Minute Groups: Separation Anxiety workbook to help provide a strong foundation for students to build independence, resilience, and confidence!

ncyi.org/30minutegroups

05/27/2026

After a busy school year, summer can start to feel like another thing we’re supposed to “get right.”
Make memories. Be productive. Rest. Travel. Recharge. Make every moment count.

But meaningful summers don’t always come from packed schedules or perfect plans. Sometimes they grow from slower mornings, evening walks, backyard movie nights, quiet conversations, creativity, laughter, and simply having room to breathe again.

In our newest blog, we’re exploring simple ways educators, parents, families, and caregivers can slow down, reconnect, and enjoy summer in ways that feel meaningful to them.

Read here: ncyi.org/slow-down-and-reconnect-this-summer/

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend. It is a day to pause and honor the men and women who gave everything in service to others, and to hold space for the families and communities still carrying the weight of that loss.

For educators and counselors, this day is also a reminder that grief looks different for everyone. Some students come from military families who know this kind of loss personally and intimately. A little extra gentleness, a little more awareness of who might be carrying something heavier today, can go a long way.

We are grateful. We remember. We honor. 🇺🇸

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P. O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN
37422

Website

http://www.ncyi.org/

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