The new federal US government can neither save nor destroy public education, because most school funding comes from states and localities. But it can play an important role — and what it should do is encourage choice for the children who today have none, while not diverting resources to people who do not need the help.

Social isolation is a growing epidemic — one that’s increasingly recognized as having dire physical, mental and emotional consequences. Since the 1980s, the percentage of American adults who say they’re lonely has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent.

After watching his son unravel during a tennis match, the author of a new book embarked on a mission to learn everything he could about losing. The book includes the stories of former professional soccer player Sara Whalen Hess, golfer Greg Norman and the soap opera star Susan Lucci.

A group of leading authors, educationalists and child-development experts is calling on the government to introduce national guidelines on the use of screens, amid concern about the impact on children’s physical and mental health. They also call for a minister for children to try to address ‘toxic’ nature of childhood.

Children are being left “at risk of harm” because of the government’s failure to develop “credible” plans to improve child protection. “Urgent” action is needed to end the variations in the quality of help for vulnerable children in England, the Public Accounts Committee says. The MPs called for the publication of detailed plans to transform child protection services.

A mom’s emotional Facebook post is highlighting the importance of foster care. Since her Facebook post went viral, Hillestad has received messages from former and current foster kids and foster parents.