Scouting magazine > Life Skills > Youth Development > Mental Health

Explore the science behind why your Scouts need sleep

IT’S 8 A.M. ON SATURDAY, and you’re not a happy camper. Although the members of the new-Scout patrol have been up and active since dawn, the senior patrol leader and half the patrol leaders are still fast asleep in their …

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Lead an ethics debate on Leave No Trace values

Read our Leader’s Guide to Leave No Trace and learn how—and why—you should teach Scouts the importance of Leave No Trace values. THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES of Leave No Trace (below) are intentionally open-ended—some might say vague—which makes them work well …

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Learn how outdoor ‘free play’ helps Scouts grow

Scouting offers an ideal opportunity to restore some sanity to childhood. All we have to do is remember the words of Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell, who wrote: “Play is the first great educator.”

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The health benefits of getting a good night’s sleep

A good night’s sleep—seven to nine hours of uninterrupted slumber—can help you ward off colds and even heart disease, improve concentration and mood, keep you from putting on pounds, and make you look younger.

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Nature of Boys: Successfully Shy

Use the familiar to help new Scouts adapt to their environment.

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The Troop Bully

Is there a Scout intimidating someone in your unit? Here’s how to stop the troop bully.

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Careful With the Kudos

What builds durable self-esteem in kids? A scientific study offers some clues.

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Parenting Solutions: Helping Children Manage Anger and Conflict

Adults can play a key role as a child develops the skills of understanding what triggers strong feelings of displeasure and knowing the best ways to deal with them.

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Parenting Solutions: Using Humor to Help Guide Your Family Through Life

Kindhearted humor, lovingly applied, can be a healing balm to soothe the stresses and strengthen the standards of family life.

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Parenting Solutions: Teen Suicide: A Preventable Tragedy

Deterring this all-too-frequent cause of death in teenagers and young adults begins with sensitivity, openness, and an active involvement in the life of a troubled youth.

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