Do I matter? Preventing school violence and raising healthier children! with Jenny Caruso

School safety, bullying, school violence, youth violence prevention, classroom behavior and children's mental health are major problems for parents and teachers everywhere. But when we talk about making schools safer, are we paying enough attention to how children actually experience their school environment? In this episode of Health Savvy You, Navjot Buttar talks with Jenny Caruso about student mattering and its connection to school safety, bullying prevention, student well-being, and youth violence prevention. What does it mean for a child to feel that they matter at school? And could something as simple as feeling seen and valued change the way a child experiences school? We often notice the child who is getting the best grades, the child who is winning on the sports field, or the child who is constantly getting into trouble. But what about the children who seem to be doing just fine? Could some students be slipping through the cracks simply because nobody has a reason to notice them? And what happens when a child feels unseen, unimportant, or disconnected from the people around them? Could they lead children to loneliness, withdrawal, absenteeism, feelings of worthlessness, disruptive behavior, bullying, self-harm, and other concerning behaviors. We also talk about why school safety involves more than physical security measures such as metal detectors and security guards, and why relationships between students and adults may deserve a much bigger place in the conversation. We lay out what teachers can look for, how parents can think about children's behavior differently, and why giving children meaningful opportunities to contribute may matter more than we realize. You'll also hear about a concept called “malevolent mattering” and why the human need to feel significant can sometimes lead young people toward dangerous forms of attention, belonging, or recognition. If you're a parent, teacher, school professional, or anyone who cares about children's health and well-being, this episode offers a new way to think about school safety, bullying, child mental health, student behavior, and youth violence prevention. Dr. Jenny Caruso is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a former K–12 health teacher in New York City. She received her EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her work focuses on student mattering, school safety, and youth violence prevention. Chapters 00:00 Why Safer Schools Start Before a Crisis 01:10 Meet Dr. Jenny Caruso 02:49 What Does It Mean to Matter? 04:55 What a Teacher Learned From Watching the Same Kids in Different Classes 07:02 Mattering vs. Social-Emotional Learning 09:12 What Does Mattering Have to Do With School Safety? 11:06 Looking Beyond Physical School Security 12:32 The Students Who Often Get Missed 15:12 What Happens When Children Don't Feel Like They Matter? 17:41 When Children Try to Matter in Negative Ways 21:05 The Teacher Who Learned to See a “Problem” Student Differently 24:46 Can School Staff Notice When Something Changes? 27:04 Why Every Child Needs to Be Acknowledged 30:54 Why Contribution Is Part of Mattering: Giving Children Real Roles 34:20 How Adults Can Show Children Their Contribution Matters 35:10 What Teachers Can Do in the Classroom 37:09 What Parents Can Do at Home 41:01 Discipline Without Making a Child Feel They Don't Matter 43:48 The Two Questions That Can Tell Us If a Child Feels Mattered 45:32 Closing: Making Schools Safer for Every Child Subscribe to ‪@HealthSavvyYou‬ for similar evidence-based conversations about health, public health, health literacy, misinformation, and things that make and keep us healthy.With this podcast build your health literacy skills- the first and most important skill in getting healthier which was never taught to us. Do you know 9 out 10 people lack enough health literacy to make best decisions about their own health, advocate for themselves and fight fake health tips? Connect with Health Savvy You and Dr. Navjot Buttar Navjot's Instagram: instagram.com/jot.k.buttar Navjot's Threads: https://www.threads.com/@jot.k.buttar... Navjot's website: navjotbuttar.com Let's get smarter about our health together! Share with those whose health you care about!