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Project-Based Learning: How It Works and Why It’s So Effective

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Project Based Learning Made Simple: 100 Classroom-Ready Activities that Inspire Curiosity, Problem Solving and Self-Guided Discovery for Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Students (Books for Teachers)

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Amazon.com: Project Based Learning Made Simple: 100 Classroom-Ready Activities that Inspire Curiosity, Problem Solving and Self-Guided Discovery for Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Students (Books for Teachers): 9781612437965: Smith, April: Books

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The power of student-driven learning: Shelley Wright at TEDxWestVancouverED

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Blake Boles, author of Why Are You Still Sending Your  Kids to School?

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Hi, I'm Blake. Welcome to my little corner of the web.

🐿️ In a nutshell

I'm a traveling writer with a lust for adventure.

41 years old. California native. No home. No car. One touring bike.

I live a low-income, high-freedom life, filled with nature, friends, travel, dance, and creative experiments. My mission is to keep the spark alive and pass it along. Join my newsletter to follow along.

Since 2008, I've run teen adventure programs through my little travel company, Unschool Adventures. I believe that a surprising number of kids don't need school to become happy, competent, and successful adults: an idea I've expressed through my writing, podcast, and other projects.

Blake Boles dot com is both a personal and professional website. Enjoy the nooks and crannies. Write anytime.

✍️ Recent writing

📍 Current location

🌎 Where to find me next

Buenos Aires, Argentina (March)

Spain/Germany/Netherlands/Belgium (April-June)

Top Photo: Camino de Sharkiago, 2022

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The homepage of Blake Boles: author, speaker, teen travel leader, and advocate for self-directed learning.

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Debates over parenting styles tend to run in extremes. Whether it takes place in a parenting group, online, or between friends, discussions over how to cobble together a solution that meets an individual family's needs for food, sleep, or play can quickly dissolve into ugly arguments that do little to help moms and dads feel supported - and serve only to dig the battle lines just a bit deeper. But in at least one parenting debate - whether "helicopter parenting" or "free-range parenting" actually helps kids to become secure, independent adults - there seems to be a third option that could be a winner for both sides. What is "submarine parenting?" According to some, it's a realistic middle ground that some of us might find very familiar.

If helicopter parenting means taking total control over a child's life and choices, and free-range parenting means taking little to no control, submarine parenting lies somewhere in the middle, according to Boston Globe reporter Jaci Conry. In an article published in the Globe this week, Conry defined submarine parenting this way:

Parents stay out of sight - under the surface, if you will - letting kids manage situations as they come up. [...] Far from disengaged parenting, submarine parenting means keeping a hidden eye on your children's progress.

According to Northeastern University behavioral science professor Dr. Kristin Lee Costa, who was quoted in the Globe article, what submarine parenting looks like in practice is allowing kids to confront every day challenges without swooping in to help - in other words, keeping the parents' own anxieties out of the child's way:

Help them realize they can overcome another kid being mean to them. If they are anxious and don't want to go to school, have them sit with their anxiety. When they are able to recompose later, celebrate that they were able to get themselves back on track.

Marie Schwartz, founder of college preparation service Teen Life, said in an interview with Psychology Today that " raising kids is like building a boat and launching it." She said that the critical point was to let the kid know the parent is there for support, but to stay out of the way until the kid - or boat, to continue the metaphor - actually sends up a call for help.

And, in fact, rather than waiting for kids to find themselves in unfamiliar territory, Schwartz and Costa actually advocated for placing children in situations outside their comfort zones: allowing them to attend sleepaway camps, spend time in other households, and even travel without the ever-present gaze of their own mom or dad.

If any of that sounds familiar, Conroy wrote in her Globe article, it's because that's the style many of our own parents took. And it's probably the style many parents would prefer, she argued, if the demands of everyday life didn't get in the way:

While my preschooler is capable of putting on her shoes, I'll often do it for her because we're short on time. [...] We hover around children during play dates, follow them around the playground so they don't get hurt, and carry their backpacks as we escort them into school. We select their activities, and a few of us intervene on their behalf with teachers or coaches.

With tragic cases of school bullying, abuse by teachers and childcare workers, and even horrific incidences of gun violence fresh in a parent's mind, it's no wonder that many parents feel the need to protect their children. But, as Conroy was willing to admit, making hovering the default basic parenting strategy comes at a steep price. "All of this handholding sends the message that our kids can't do this without us," she wrote.

And if kids never develop the self-confidence to solve problems on their own, surviving on college campuses (and beyond) becomes all but impossible, Schwartz told Psychology Today.

Most parents just want to raise their kids to become healthy, productive adults, amirite? But modern parenting is rife with debates that seem to pit parents against each other in impossible either-or scenarios. The good news is that when it comes to how much (or how little) help to give a child, there really might be a middle ground. Rather than running to an extreme "hands-on" or "hands-off" approach, submarine parenting allows kids to test themselves and still know that parents are there when help is really needed. And any solution that builds confident kids (without causing an all-out war at the next parenting group) is probably one worth paying attention to.

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What Is Submarine Parenting? Helicopter & Free-Range Parents Could Have A Third Option

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Debates over parenting styles tend to run in extremes. Whether it takes place in a parenting group, online, or between friends, discussions over how to cobble together a solution that meets an individual family's needs for food, sleep, or play can...

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Online Marketplace for original educational resources.

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Our Founding Story

TpT was founded by Paul Edelman, a New York City public school teacher who saw incredible, untapped potential in the work that teachers create for every lesson, every day. Paul quickly realized that his students did the best when he incorporated ideas from other educators. This spark inspired him to create TpT, which has grown into an enormous and global staff room: a place where any educator can find essential resources, collaboration, and inspiration.

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TpT was founded by Paul Edelman, a New York City public school teacher who saw incredible, untapped potential in the work that teachers create for every lesson, every day. Paul quickly realized that his students did the best when he incorporated ideas from other educators.

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"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out." -John Holt
Miss Gribbon set up a new teaching prop at the front of our first grade classroom - three stick figures made of metal with round blank faces and oversized magnetic hands. Each figure was about the size of a toddler, although she referred to them as "men." She said the first figure's name was Ones. The next, to our right, she named Tens. The last in the row she named Hundreds. She added two bright red magnetic fingers to each figures' hands. Then she announced that One's fingers were worth two, Ten's were worth 20, and Hundred's were worth 200.

I could NOT understand how identical magnetic people could have fingers worth different amounts. The hundreds man wasn't taller than the tens man or the ones man. Their fingers were the same size. So I watched carefully as she stood them up the next day, hoping to figure out what distinguished them. Nothing. Yesterday's Ones man might be today's Hundreds man. Their value wasn't intrinsic to who they were. I struggled mightily to understand how one man could be worth more than another. (Story of my political confusion, even now.)

Each time Miss Gribbon rearranged the characters' fingers she asked a different student, "What number do you see?" If they got it wrong, she asked again in a louder voice before reluctantly providing the answer. To me, math lessons seemed very similar to playing an unfamiliar game with kids who owned the game. They'd always say, "You'll figure out the rules as we play." By the time I did, they always won.

We start out in life equipped to pick up mathematical concepts easily. Well-designed studies reveal even babies demonstrate strong understanding of certain mathematical principles.

We continue to advance in our comprehension almost entirely through hands-on experience. Math is implicit in play, music, art, dancing, make-believe, building and taking apart, cooking, and other everyday activities. Only after a child has a strong storehouse of direct experience, which includes the ability to visualize, can he or she readily grasp more abstract mathematical concepts. As Einstein said, "If I can't picture it, I can't understand it."

Yet right around the time formal instruction starts, children increasingly report that they worry about and fear math. Math anxiety, even in first and second graders, disproportionally affects children who have the most working memory. These are the very children most likely to show the highest achievement in math. But stress can disrupt working memory and undermine performance. Otherwise successful children with high degrees of math anxiety fall about half a school year behind less anxious students. In a study of 154 young students, about half had medium to high math anxiety.

Early math anxiety can intensify, leading to increased math avoidance and lowered competence. Over 60 years of research show that positive attitudes toward math tend to deteriorate as students move through school. More than half the adult population in the U.S. is said to suffer from math anxiety, some with math avoidance so extreme that it has the potential to damage financial decisions and careers.

Math is implicit in play, music, art, dancing, make-believe, building and taking apart, cooking, and other everyday activities.

Is math instruction to blame?

Innovative math educator Maria Droujkova says, in an Atlantic article titled " 5-Year-Olds Can Learn Calculus," that math instruction typically follows a hierarchical progression starting with counting, then addition and subtraction, then multiplication and division, onward to fractions, algebra, and so on. Unfortunately, she says, this approach has "... nothing to do with how people think, how children grow and learn, or how mathematics is built." She and other math educators around the world say the standard curriculum that begins with arithmetic is actually more difficult for children than play-based activities related to more advanced fields of mathematics. As Dr.Droujkova writes, "Calculations kids are forced to do are often so developmentally inappropriate, the experience amounts to torture."

That torture is compounded by the way math is taught. Extensive research demonstrates that kids readily understand math when they develop the ability to use numbers flexibly, what's called a "number sense." Number sense is fundamental to all higher-level mathematics. This does not develop through memorization but instead from relaxed, enjoyable exploratory work with math concepts. In fact, math experts repeatedly point out that math education standbys - flash cards, repetitive worksheets, and timed tests - are not only unhelpful but actually damaging. These common methods discourage number sense, setting young people off in the wrong direction. In fact doing math under pressure impairs the working memory students need to access what they already know. Pressure also leads to math anxiety. There's no educational reason to use these tactics in the classroom or at home. Greater math ability has nothing to do with working quickly nor does quick recall of math facts relate to fluency with numbers.

Add to this the burden of grades and test scores. Students today deal with a heavy load of standardized tests across all major subjects, plus tests in math class as often as every few days. They quickly learn math has to do with performance, not with usefulness and certainly not with beauty or mystery.

In fact doing math under pressure impairs the working memory students need to access what they already know.

As mathematics educator Jo Boaler writes in Mathematical Mindsets, it's well known that grades and test scores damage motivation and result in limiting self-labels in high, middle, and low-achieving students. Research consistently shows that alternatives to grading are far more beneficial. One study compared the way teachers responded to math homework in sixth grade. Half the students were graded, the other half were given diagnostic comments without a grade. Students who got only comments learned twice as fast as the graded group, attitudes improved, and any achievement gap between male and female students disappeared.

Dr. Boaler writes about another study in which fifth and sixth grade students were assessed three different ways. Some students received only grades, some only comments, and some both grades and comments. The students who achieved at significantly higher levels were those who were given comments only. Those who got any grade at all, with or without comments, did poorly. This was true for students across the spectrum of ability. Further research found that students only needed to believe they were being graded to lose motivation and achieve less.

Studies continue to show that students given positive feedback and no grades are more successful as they continue through school. There's a strong relationship between teachers' assessment practices and students' attitude about their own potential. Unfortunately teachers give less constructive feedback as students get older and students' belief in their own chance of improving also declines steadily from upper elementary grades through high school.

There's a strong relationship between teachers' assessment practices and students' attitude about their own potential.

What happens when students aren't assessed?

Dr. Boaler followed teenagers in England who worked on open-ended math projects for three years. These students were not graded or tested, and only given information about their own learning, even though they faced national standardized tests at the end of that period. A few weeks before the test they were given practice exams to work through. Although they were largely unfamiliar with exam questions or timed conditions, when tested these students scored at a significantly higher level than students who had gone through standard math classes with frequent tests similar to the national exam questions.

What happens when math instruction is even more limited?

Back in 1929, pioneering educator Louis P. Benezet, superintendent of the Manchester, New Hampshire schools, wrote, "The whole subject of arithmetic could be postponed until the seventh year of school, and it could be mastered in two years' study by any normal child." He began an experiment. In five classrooms, children were exposed only to naturally occurring math like telling time and playing games, while in other classrooms children received typical math lessons.

At the end of the first year differences were already apparent between students exposed to these two different approaches. When children were asked the same mathematical story problem, the traditionally taught students grabbed at numbers but came up with few correct results, while the experimental students reasoned out correct answers eagerly, despite having minimal exposure to formal math. Based on these successes, the experiment expanded. By 1932, half of the third- to fifth-grade classes in the city operated under the experimental program. After several years, the experiment ended due to pressure from some principals. Children in the experimental classrooms went back to learning from a math book in the second half of sixth grade. All sixth-grade children in the district were tested and in the spring of that year all the classes tested equally. When the final tests were given at the end of the school year, one of the experimental groups led the city. In other words, those children exposed to traditional math curricula for only part of the sixth-grade year had mastered the same skills as those who had spent years on drills, times tables, and exams. Even more remarkably, the students in the experimental classrooms were from the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods where poor school performance was common. The Journal of the National Education Association published the last of Mr.Benezet's articles in 1936, calling on educators to replace formal math instruction with naturally occurring math.

What happens when there's no math instruction by trained educators?

Homeschooling and unschooling families around the world devote much less, if any, time to formal mathematics instruction. There are significant limitations to research of homeschooled and unschooled youth for a variety of reasons, including a self-selecting population, so findings are interesting but inconclusive.

Multiple studies indicate homeschooling offers significant academic advantages, regardless of the parent's educational attainment. Those tested in the last two years of homeschooling, what would be a schooled student's junior and senior years, statistically score in the 86 th to 92 nd percentile. The percentage of homeschooled students who complete college far exceeds the rate of public school students.

Studies show homeschoolers taking the SAT tend to score significantly above average in all areas except math where their scores are still above average. The most recent College Board stats show mean scores for all college-bound seniors were 497 in critical reading, 487 in writing, and 513 in mathematics. For the 13,549 homeschooled seniors who took the test that year, means scores were 567 in critical reading, 535 in writing, and 521 in mathematics.

It's hard to wade through research comparing math achievement of homeschooled versus conventionally schooled young people because much of the research includes as "homeschooled" those students who are educated using district or state sponsored programs which provide conventional-style math instruction to be done at home, which largely replicates the problems of conventional classroom instruction.

Still, several informal surveys show disproportionate number of homeschool and unschool adults working in STEM careers. And it seems that a significant number of today's high-achievers in technology, science, and math have emerged from the homeschooling community. Their numbers include:

Erik Demain - professor of theoretical computer science at MIT and named "one of the most brilliant scientists in America" by Popular Science

Ruth Elke Lawrence-Naimark - researcher in knot theory and algebraic topology,

Francis Collins - geneticist and director of the National Institutes of Health, Samuel Chao Chung Ting - physicist and Nobel Prize recipient,

Phillip Streich - holder of numerous patents and co-founder of nanotechnology company making him a multimillionaire by the time he entered Harvard,

Arran Fernandez - youngest mathematician with sequences published in Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences,

Willard Boyle - physicist, co-inventor of charge-coupled device and Nobel Prize winner.

What happens when there's no math instruction other than what young people request?

Democratic schools exist at the opposite end of the spectrum from conventional schooling. Students are not segregated by age and each student has one vote, just as staff members do, to democratically run the community. All young people are trusted to choose their own activities and no classes are mandatory, making these schools a collectively managed and open setting for self-directed learning.

Psychologist Peter Gray surveyed graduates of one such school, Sudbury Valley School (SVS) in Framingham Massachusetts. He found that young people who were not mandated to follow curricula, take tests, and receive grades "...have gone on to good colleges and good jobs...They are taking responsible positions in business, music and art, science and technology, social services, skilled crafts, and academia." Dr. Gray notes that employers are rarely concerned about a prospective employee's grades in algebra. Instead the traits for career success are those that graduates say were fostered by their time at SVS, such as "...a strong sense of responsibility, an ability to take initiative and solve problems, a desire and ability to learn on the job, an ability to communicate effectively, and perhaps most of all, a high interest in and commitment to the field.."

Learning that's sought out sticks with the learner. It promotes curiosity, persistence, passion, and deep inquiry.

And there's this anecdote, shared by teacher Daniel Greenberg in his book Free At Last. A group of students at the Sudbury Valley School approached him saying they wanted to learn arithmetic. He tried to dissuade them, explaining that they'd need to meet regularly and do homework. The students agreed to do so. In the school library, Greenberg found a math book written in 1898 that was perfect in its simplicity. Memorization, exercises, and quizzes were not ordinarily part of the school day for these students, but they arrived on time, did their homework, and took part eagerly. Greenberg reflects, "In twenty weeks, after twenty contact hours, they had covered it all. Six year's worth. Every one of them knew the material cold." A week later he described what he regarded as a miracle to a friend, Alan White, who worked as a math specialist in public schools. White wasn't surprised. He said, "...everyone knows that the subject matter itself isn't that hard. What's hard, virtually impossible, is beating it into the heads of youngsters who hate every step. The only way we have a ghost of a chance is to hammer away at the stuff bit by bit every day for years. Even then it does not work. Most of the sixth graders are mathematical illiterates. Give me a kid who wants to learn the stuff - well, twenty hours or so makes sense."

These examples aren't meant to be anti-teaching, they are meant to broaden our understanding about when instruction is most useful and effective. That happens less often than we'd think - when the learner seeks guidance, demonstration, resources, or help. Learning that's sought out sticks with the learner. It promotes curiosity, persistence, passion, and deep inquiry - exactly what's needed to dig into the fathomless depths of mathematics or any other pursuit.

Math as it's used by the vast majority of people around the world is actually applied math. It's directly related to how we work and play in our everyday lives. In other words it's useful, captivating, and often fun.

Interestingly, people who rely on mental computation every day demonstrate the sort of adroitness that doesn't fit into conventional models of math competence. In a New York Times article titled " Why Do Americans Stink at Math," author Elizabeth Green (who defines the term "unschooled" as people who have little formal education) writes,

Observing workers at a Baltimore dairy factory in the '80s, the psychologist Sylvia Scribner noted that even basic tasks required an extensive amount of math. For instance, many of the workers charged with loading quarts and gallons of milk into crates had no more than a sixth-grade education. But they were able to do math, in order to assemble their loads efficiently, that was "equivalent to shifting between different base systems of numbers." Throughout these mental calculations, errors were "virtually nonexistent." And yet when these workers were out sick and the dairy's better-educated office workers filled in for them, productivity declined.

The unschooled may have been more capable of complex math than people who were specifically taught it, but in the context of school, they were stymied by math they already knew. Studies of children in Brazil, who helped support their families by roaming the streets selling roasted peanuts and coconuts, showed that the children routinely solved complex problems in their heads to calculate a bill or make change. When cognitive scientists presented the children with the very same problem, however, this time with pen and paper, they stumbled. A 12-year-old boy who accurately computed the price of four coconuts at 35 cruzeiros each was later given the problem on paper. Incorrectly using the multiplication method he was taught in school, he came up with the wrong answer. Similarly, when Scribner gave her dairy workers tests using the language of math class, their scores averaged around 64 percent. The cognitive-science research suggested a startling cause of Americans' innumeracy: school.

And Stanford mathematician Keith Devlin explains in The Math Gene that we're schooled to express math in formal terms, but that's not necessary for most of us - no matter what careers we choose. People who rely on mental math in their everyday lives are shown to have an accuracy rate around 98 percent, yet when they're challenged to do the same math symbolically (as in standardized tests) their performance is closer to 37 percent.

What mathematicians do at the highest level is play with abstract ideas.

Conventional math education may also limit our concept of what math can do. As Dr. Devlin notes in a post titled " Most Math Problems Do Not Have a Unique Right Answer:"

One of the most widely held misconceptions about mathematics is that a math problem has a unique correct answer...

Having earned my living as a mathematician for over 40 years, I can assure you that the belief is false. In addition to my university research, I have done mathematical work for the U. S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Army, private defense contractors, and a number of for-profit companies. In not one of those projects was I paid to find 'the right answer.' No one thought for one moment that there could be such a thing.

So what is the origin of those false beliefs? It's hardly a mystery. People form that misconception because of their experience at school. In school mathematics, students are only exposed to problems that (a) are well defined, (b) have a unique correct answer, and (c) whose answer can be obtained with a few lines of calculation.

How can we translate all these findings into math education? We not only need to drop flashcards, timed tests, and rote worksheets. We need to emphasize math as meaningful, useful, and connected.

1. The most statistically significant predictors of long-term math achievement, according to a study that tracked children from age three to age 10, had very little to do with instruction. Instead the top factors were the mother's own educational achievements and a high quality home learning environment. That sort of home environment included activities like being read to, going to the library, playing with numbers, painting and drawing, learning letters and numbers, singing and chanting rhymes. These positive effects were as significant for low-income children as they were for high income children. Children who attended highly effective preschools (but not moderately effective programs) also benefited. Understanding numbers as meaningful and fun is important from the earliest years.

2. Technology innovator Conrad Wolfram says we need to go beyond computation. He suggests these four steps:

1. Pose the right question about an issue

2. Change that real world scenario into a math formulation

3. Compute

4. Turn the math formulation back into a real world scenario to verify it

3. Barnard College president Sian Beilock president says math is best learned as storytelling and done so by incorporating the body, the way children naturally absorb real world math. As neuroscientists map the brain, they find humanity evolved skills that overlaid onto areas of the brain that control the body. Math doesn't sink in when confined to the intellect. It is drawn in through the body. We see this in studies showing babies who are able to move and explore more freely learn more quickly. "Math, Dr. Beilock says, "is a very recent cultural invention." The part of the brain used for numerical representation is related to finger motion, demonstrating exactly why children best learn by counting on their fingers. Hand movement all the way up to full body engagement, such as walking while thinking, are actually more valuable than speech in comprehending everything from early computation to abstract concepts in physics. Dr. Beilock also emphasizes the benefits of time in nature to refresh one's attention, leading to greater focus and comprehension.

4. Dr. Droujkova adds to this by emphasizing richly social math experiences that are both complex (able to go in a variety of directions) and simple (open to immediate play). She says any branch of mathematics offers both complex and simple ways in. It is best, she explains, to keep from chaining kids into formal equations early on. There's an informal level where kids play with ideas and notice patterns. Then comes a more formal level where kids can use abstract words, graphs, and formulas. But it's best if a playful attitude is kept alive, because what mathematicians do at the highest level is play with abstract ideas. Dr. Droujkova notes that the community she founded called Natural Math is essentially a "freedom movement." She explains: "We work toward freedom at many levels - the free play of little kids, the agency of families and local groups in organizing math activities, the autonomy of artists and makers, and even liberty for us curriculum designers. ... No single piece of mathematics is right for everyone. People are different, and people need to approach mathematics differently."
Although we've been schooled to believe that math must be taught in a structured way by professionals, Dr. Droujkova continues to establish lively and engaging community-based, open-learning math circles that can be led by any adult. She and her colleagues make their materials open under Creative Commons license and offer online hubs with courses and resources for parents, teachers and teenagers who want to lead local groups. (See naturalmath.com) As Dr. Droujkova says in a recent interview, "math circles are magic circles."

School-like instruction has been around less than a fraction of one percent of the time we humans have been on earth. Yet humanity has thrived. That's because we evolved as free range learners gaining mastery as we explore, play, emulate role models, challenge ourselves, make mistakes and try again. That's how everyone learns to walk and talk. That's how young people have become capable adults throughout history. And that's how innovation happens in the arts, sciences, and technology. In the long view, school is the experiment.

For many it's hard to see beyond the school mindset because most of us went to school. So when we think of education, we view school as the standard even if we simultaneously realize that many parts of that model (also found in daycare, preschool, kids' clubs, sports, and enrichment programs) aren't necessarily beneficial. Narrowing the innate way we learn can unintentionally narrow enthusiasm, creativity, persistence, and the desire to dive deeply into any pursuit. It can interfere with the full development of our abilities.

Math misery doesn't have to be imposed on the next generation.

My first grade math lessons taught me to equate math with fear. I went on to get good grades in the subject, but by high school my math anxiety led me to give up hopes of working in a science field. Math misery doesn't have to be imposed on the next generation.

It's time to free ourselves from the assumption that math instruction is a painful necessity. Approaching math in ways that are disconnected from a child's life subtracts the meaning and the joy. It multiplies fear. Data shows and experience proves that real learning flows from the learner's consent and the learner's interest. We can offer math as an enlivening, beautiful tool to the next generation as soon as we free ourselves from the limitations of the school mindset.

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Math Beyond The School Mindset | Alliance for Self-Directed Education

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"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."

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A few years ago, I watched Brene Brown's TED Talk on Vulnerability. Her story, her research, her authenticity, and yes, her vulnerability resonated with me deeply. One of the concepts that stood out the most was that in order to live wholeheartedly, we must feel the full range of emotions. The positive: joy, gratitude, happiness. And the not so positive: grief, fear, shame, sadness, disappointment.

This talk moved me, changed me and challenged me to think differently. And that is what TED talks have the power to do. They can make the hairs on the back of our neck stand up, bring us to tears, and most importantly, motivate, inspire and challenge our thinking.

Which is why I'm so excited to share these TED Talks for kids. I've always had a passion for working with children; I have three daughters of my own, co-lead two local Girl Scout Troops, spent time in my career working in education and am a member of the Galileo community advisory board (an innovation camp for kids).

I'm involved in all of these because I feel deeply how important it is to help our kids build their confidence, self-esteem, innovation and creativity. I want every kid to realize they are awesome just as they are. That they have the ability to make anything happen if they dream big and work hard. Imagine what that would do for our youth.

If you Google or scour lists of top TED talks, you tend to get similar ones popping up. That's because they're awesome. But they're not all appropriate for kids.

How I shortlisted these TED Talks

I've done the hard work for you. Along with my family, kids, their friends and a few others, we vetted over 100 TED Talks and picked out the 17 that I believe send powerful and inspiring messages our kids desperately need.

So, whether your kid is 6 or 16, I hope you find something that inspires, moves, motivates and challenges them.

They're short enough for young brains to stay engaged. While there is an 18 minute "rule" for TED talks, many of the most popular talks are 20+ minutes. Recently, as I toured middle schools for my daughters, one of the principals shared that a kid's attention span is the kids age minus one. So, if you have an 11 year old, then 10 minutes is his/her attention span. You can't expect him/her to listen to 18 minutes and stay focused the whole time. All of the talks highlighted below are under 15 minutes. Some are as short as three.

They all include life lessons I believe are important for today's youth. For me, this meant searching for talks that would build confidence and self-esteem; help kids be true to themselves. Understand what makes a happy and successful life. How to dream big. To communicate, interact and treat others. Above all, these talks will help kids see that they are awesome and that anything is possible when they dream big and work hard.

They're kid-friendly. You might think this is obvious, but I found many speakers share political views, curse, or share content or concepts that that could be scary or confusing for young minds. If you ask those around me, I'm probably a little overcautious about what I expose my kids too. I'm ok with that. They have plenty of time to see the darker side of the world as they age. I would be comfortable with my seven-year-old watching all of these.

They're interesting. Kids need to be engaged, interested and motivated to even sit through a video. While this isn't always easy to do, I've tried to find videos with likeable speakers, compelling topics and inspiring stories. And don't worry, they're not just for kids - these are awesome talks for adults as well.

Top 17 Ted Talks for kids

1. A Life Lesson From A Volunteer Firefighter (4:01)

I started with this one because all of my kids absolutely loved it. It's an easy entry point for kids - short and sweet with a powerful message. (And what kid doesn't like a firefighter?!)

Volunteer Firefighter and Activist Mark Bezos shares his story about how small things can make a big difference.

My 11-year-old's key takeway? "It shows we don't have to do something big to make a difference".

Here's a key piece of his message:

"In both my vocation at Robin Hood and my avocation as a volunteer firefighter, I am witness to acts of generosity and kindness on a monumental scale, but I'm also witness to acts of grace and courage on an individual basis. And you know what I've learned? They all matter."

2. What Adults Can Learn From Kids (8:06)

One of my 11-year-olds was riveted by this one. In fact, at one point, I tried to increase the volume on the iPad while she kept pushing me out of the way so she didn't miss anything.

Twelve-year-old Adora Svitak is incredible. This talk is inspiring not only because of what she says, but because of how incredible and confident this young girl is as she presents.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts from her talk:

"Kids don't think about limitations...they just think about good ideas."
"Learning between grown-ups and kids should be reciprocal."
"When expectations are low, trust me, we (kids) will sink to them."

3. Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection (8:50)

Recommended by several people when I was asking around, I found myself choking up in the first two minutes as Reshma shares her personal story about bravery in the face of failure.
"This is not a story about failure or resilience...it's about bravery."
She talks about our "bravery deficit".

"When we teach girls to be brave, and we have a supportive network cheering them on, they will build incredible things."

She shares one of my favorite philosophies: Progress, not perfection.

This is a great one for those who need a little more confidence to raise their hand, try out for that team, or face an upcoming challenge.

4. 10 Ways To Have a Better Conversation (11:30)

This is one of my all-time favorites. I'm becoming increasingly concerned about our kids' ability to have a face-to-face conversation. Just look around at a restaurant and see how many kids have their faces in phones. One recent survey of managers said 46% of recent grads need to hone their communication skills.

As someone who spent many years earning a living helping people communicate better, I think this is necessary for every kid. It's a lost art. A skill that is becoming extinct with the world of technology.

Radio Host Celeste Headlee provides great tips for how to have a better conversation, and, more importantly, how to listen.

At one point, she shares this thought written in the Atlantic by a high school teacher named Paul Barnewell.

"I came to realize that conversational competence might be the single most overlooked skill we fail to teach. Kids spend hours each day engaging with ideas and each other through screens, but rarely do they have an opportunity to hone their interpersonal communications skills. It might sound like a funny question, but we have to ask ourselves: Is there any 21st Century skill more important than being able to sustain coherent, confident conversation?"

My older daughters both really enjoyed this talk. They learned "how important it is to listen and to think about other people, not just yourself".

My favorite line of all time: "There's no reason to show you're paying attention, if in fact, you are actually paying attention."

This is a great one to share with your teenagers - even if you need to text them the link?

5. A Promising Test for Pancreatic Cancer... From A Teenager (10:46)

I just love this one. Jack shares his story, how as a teenager he searched for and found a promising cure for pancreatic cancer. Motivated by the death of a close family friend, Jack shows some of my favorite attributes: thinking, process, initiative, perseverance, determination, courage...and humor. He's a fantastic speaker and will keep your kids interested and engaged.

One of my favorite quotes:

"You don't have to be a professor with multiple degrees to have your ideas valued...Just imagine what you could do."

"He did that all by himself?" One of my daughters asked at the end. Yep, he did. And you can, too.

6. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (6:09)

With three kids, I'm always driving a car full of kids somewhere. As I was researching for this article, during each of my rides, I took the opportunity to ask whoever was in the car about their recommendations. This talk was recommended by a 16-year-old high school student. (Thank you, Bella!) I had seen it before and was so glad she liked it as much as I did.

Angela Lee Duckworth left her consulting career and became a 7th grade math teacher in the New York public school system. She was fascinated by what helped students succeed. This talk is the story of what she found.

Here's a quick preview:

"Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint. "

Need another reason to share this with your kid? Angela highlights that kids with grit are more likely to graduate...and be successful in their chosen careers.

We all know how important grit and perseverance are; let's help our children see that.

7. Dare To Dream Big (8:49)

With just over 22,000 views, this video hasn't hit "mainstream" TED world yet, but Isabella Rose Taylor, a freshman in college and a working fashion designer, tells a fantastic story.
"Today I want to talk to you about dreams and stories."
She shares one of my favorite stories about the 4-minute mile and how belief is such an important part of success.

"They didn't all the sudden get faster or stronger, they just believed it was possible."

The rest of her talk is filled with lessons on dreaming big, believing in yourself, courage, authenticity, and the importance of relationships.

"We should aim as high as possible and dream big."

Yes. We. Should.

8. Yup, I built a nuclear fusion reactor (3:26)

Even the title shows the confidence that 17-year-old Nuclear Physicist Taylor Wilson has. As he says...and proves,

"Kids can really change the world."

I love his passion and confidence. He started out with a dream and ended up meeting the President.

9. Underwater Astonishments (5:18)

While this may not have any explicit life lessons, it's incredibly interesting and fun to watch with kids. Approved by my 7-year-old, who said, "It was very interesting and I liked the pictures. I didn't know an octopus could do that."

The underlying lesson? For me, it shows how everything is incredible. When we look for beauty and awe, we will find it.

I also think it's fascinating as Geologist David Gallow shares:

"And in a place where we thought no life at all, we find more life...there's still 97 percent, and either that 97 percent is empty or just full of surprises."

This teaches kids that there is so much in life and in their world to discover.

10. What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness (12:40)

I'd say this talk is better for older kids. Robert Waldinger shares what makes a good life, from the longest study in history on happiness.

If your kids are having a hard time getting into it, head to 5:51 for the highlights:

"So what have we learned? What are the lessons that come from the tens of thousands of pages of information that we've generated on these lives? Well, the lessons aren't about wealth or fame or working harder and harder. The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period."

I love the focus on the importance of relationships and friendships.

11. The Happy Secret To Better Work (12:14)

Positive Psychologist Shawn Achor is funny, fast and witty. He begins his talk with an incredibly funny story about his sister and him when they were little.

He shares that:

"90 percent of your long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but by the way your brain processes the world. And if we change it, if we change our formula for happiness and success, we can change the way that we can then affect reality."

If you want to get to the essence, head to 9:09 for his suggestions.

This is another one that's probably best for older kids and teenagers.

12. Weird, or Just Different? (2:35)

The shortest talk on this list, Derek Sivers talks about the power of perspective. It teaches kids that we all have a different lens through which we see the world and we need to be aware of our assumptions and bias.

One of Derek's thoughts:

There's a saying that whatever true thing you can say about India, the opposite is also true. So, let's never forget...that whatever brilliant ideas you have or hear, that the opposite may also be true.

My daughter's thoughts: " It shows we can both be right." YES.

13. Living Beyond Limits (9:44)

When I said earlier that I would let my 7-year-old watch all of these talks, this might be my one exception. Amy Purdy's message is incredible but with an illness and near-death experience, it could be scary for little ones.

When she was just 19, Amy got bacterial meningitis and after a long fight for her life, she survived, but lost both legs below the knee. Now, a pro-snowboarder, she shows how "It's believing in those dreams and facing our fears head-on that allows us to live our lives beyond our limits."

Her message:

"If your life was a book, and you were the author, how would you want your story to go?"

As my daughter and her friend watched this video, they loved Amy, were completely engaged by her story and got this lesson - "Don't give up on our dreams just because something bad happens."

14. 8 Secrets of Success (3:26)

In this short video, Analyst Richard St. John condenses a decade of research on success into three minutes. It's a two-hour presentation he gives to high school students on what's needed to be successful. Quick. Fast. Interesting with lots of great life lessons including serving, persisting, hard work and passion.

15. Nature. Beauty. Gratitude. (9:47)

The title says it all.

Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg's beautiful cinematic time lapse imagery is paired with words of perspective from a little girl and an elderly man about what makes life so beautiful.

It may feel slow for some kids, but contains a compelling and valuable message.

I loved when the little girl shared her perspective about why we should be exploring nature and not watching TV and when the elderly gentlemen shared these thoughts:

"You think this is just another day in your life? It's not just another day. It's the one day that is given to you today. It's given to you. It's a gift. It's the only gift that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness."

Kids might also find it interesting why we say OMG. I did.

16. Why Some Of Us Don't Have One True Calling (12:26)

This is a great talk, especially for high school students who are trying to figure out what to do with their life! In my coaching practice, this question still evokes a sense of stress, whether someone is going into high school, graduating from college, or in a mid-life career change.

Emilie's powerful message:

If you have multiple dreams, goals and interests, "There's nothing wrong with you. What you are, is a multipotentialite. Someone with many interests and creative pursuits."

The statistics back up this concept. Studies have shown that only 27 percent of college grads have a job related to their major; the average person changes jobs 10-15 times during his or her career; and people change careers anywhere from 3-7 times over the course of their lifetime.

Emilie then goes on to share the skills and benefits of being a multipotentialite, complete with examples of successful individuals who have created a life that works for them.

My absolute favorite message from this talk is one that I'm deeply aligned with in my coaching practice:

"We should all be designing lives and careers that are aligned with how we're wired... Embracing our inner wiring leads to a happier, more authentic life."

Amen.

17. How I Harnessed the Wind (5:52)

Incredible and inspiring. At the age of 14, William Kamkwamba, with very little education or resources, motivated by poverty and famine, created a windmill to power his family's home. As he looked at his life, he felt that what he was living was a fate he couldn't accept. So rather than live the life he was "destined" to live, he decided to change it.

Not only is this story about courage, drive and innovation, it will also help kids gain perspective about what others in the world are facing on a daily basis.

He closes with these words of wisdom:

"I would like to say something to all the people out there like me, to the Africans, and the poor who are struggling with your dreams. God bless. Maybe one day you will watch this on the Internet. I say to you, trust yourself and believe. Whatever happens, don't give up."

BONUS: I Think We All Need a Pep Talk (3:28)

Ok, so it's not officially a TED Talk, but it was on their site and I just had to include it! Many of you have probably seen this Soul Pancake video before. I don't need to say much. Just watch it.

Here are three of my favorite lines from 9-year old "Kid President":

"We're all on the same team."
"We were made to be awesome."
"Give the world a reason to dance, so get to it."

Now What? Watch these with your kids!

Now that you've read through these options, it's time to pick a few and watch them with your kid(s). I recommend you choose three that are relevant to your family, a situation your kid is in, a life lesson you feel is important for them to learn, or something that you're just excited to share.

That's the easy part. Now you have to get them to watch it!

Here are a few recommendations for sharing these with your kids:

1. Share your thoughts and a few W's

Who is this talk about, why you think it's important for them to watch and what you think they'll find interesting. Get them hooked before they watch it. Giving them high-level context will not only get them interested, but get their minds primed for learning.
2. After you watch the video, have a discussion.
Not sure what to ask? Here are some ideas:

What did you think of the video?

What did you enjoy?

What do you think motivated this speaker to speak on this topic?

What did you learn?

What do you think you'll do differently as a result of watching this?

3. Ask them to stick with it and be patient.
When I started testing these with my daughters, I could see in the first minute they were wondering if they really wanted to do this. I asked them to be patient, keep an open mind and stick with it. Once they got through the initial, "Ugh, Mom!".... they enjoyed watching.

Lucky for you, the ones they couldn't get through didn't make this cut! Watch one (maybe two) at time. Stick with the age minus one rule.

I loved researching these talks, watching them with my kids and their friends, and hearing their thoughts and reactions. I hope they provide a great discussion for you and your family, some inspiration for your kids and something that moves, motivates and challenges you both.

I'd love to hear which of these resonated with you and your kids - and if you have other favorite TED talks you think would be great for kids, please let me know!

Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com

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17 Ted Talks for Kids to Inspire Little Minds to Do Big Things - LifeHack

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Along with my family, kids and their friends, we vetted over 100 TED Talks and picked out the 17 best Ted Talks for kids that send powerful and inspiring messages.

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When I first started homeschooling I was always caught up in focusing on the core subjects. Sure, we did chores together and occasionally made lunch as a group, but that was it. I never really considered life skills as that important. When I look back at that time, I realize now my decision was silly-I'm being kind to myself!

Life skills play a huge role in how kids function in society at an early age and as adults. For example, when my kids are in a social setting, I want them to be polite, friendly, and relaxed as they talk and play with other kids. But life skills don't end with socialization, there are so many more skills that we can teach as homeschoolers. Here's a bonus, as homeschoolers we have the flexibility to actually include them in our curriculum.

If you haven't incorporated life skills in your curriculum, or are just looking for some additional ideas, check out these suggestions. My kids enjoy them and they add some serious fun into our day.

The Power of Persuasion

We are inundated with messaging every day. From TV commercials, internet ads, texts, emails, and news, to conversations with friends and strangers. A basic function of messaging is to "persuade." If our kids can't sift through the deceptive practices and harmful messaging, they could unwittingly become influenced into making poor decisions.

For example, I remember almost getting a credit card when I first started college. The salesperson was so persuasive, he made this credit card sound like I could travel the world for free. Luckily for me, I had a friend who knew better. Avoiding deception isn't easy, but here are a few tips you can pass on to your kids:

Don't make a quick decision. Give yourself some time to think it through, whether you're buying a car or clicking on a link.

Gather as much information as possible. Talk with other people, do online searches, and investigate any resources available.

Fact check. There are plenty of websites that help with fact-checking claims.

Use critical thinking skills to help you detect deception.

Kids and adults are targeted for deceptive messaging and practices. Teach your children from a young age that not everything they hear or read is true.

Money Skills

These skills go far beyond just spending and saving money. Kids should learn at a young age how to money. This includes generating a budget, balancing the budget, tracking their spending, and something experts call creating money priorities. For instance, perhaps your high school student wants a car, that would clearly be their money priority. The largest chunk of their budget would be set aside for their goal, not weekend fast food purchases.

Other ideas for teaching money include:

Use digital help such as Goodbudget for budgeting and money management.

If you get PBSkids on TV, have your children watch .

Make your grocery shopping list with your kids and let them help with the shopping.

Teach your kids how to use an ATM and make sure they know that when the money appears, it comes out of your account-it's not magical like my child first thought!

Open up a bank account and keep track of their savings and spending.

Teach them about doing taxes and the importance of filing them each year.

My parents never taught me about money management and that hurt me as I grew older. To be fair, money skills have never been a huge focus in this country but it's gaining momentum now.

Teach Everyday Skills

I'll never forget the day I visited my good friend and found her neck-deep in dirty laundry. Her son had just come home from college for the weekend and he brought his wash. Now, I know parents will do their kids' wash for them, but this was crazy! He didn't know how to do his own laundry, so he just kept wearing the same clothes. Once I witnessed that scene, I immediately went home and started teaching my kids about doing their laundry.

Some additional daily skills include:

Keeping things organized: This can start with organizing the classroom and their bedroom. It's amazing how much space you can find once you organize something like a closet!

Time management: Let your children help set the school schedule and have them stick to the time structure.

Cooking and cleaning up: As your kids get older, they should start making their own meals and cleaning up the mess.

Using knives: If your child understands how to use a knife properly, they prepare better meals and have less chance of cutting themselves.

Swimming skills: We taught our kids at a young age because this skill is super important.

Listening skills: If you children don't understand how to listen, they won't learn or experience as much.

Exercising: Exercise improves your child's physical and mental wellbeing.

Buying their own food: You can teach your kids about healthy foods and how to read labels and compare prices.

Using tools: Knowing how to use a hammer, screwdriver, and tape measure will come in handy.

Keeping a positive outlook: Things won't always go your children's way but that doesn't mean they can't stay positive.

Taking care of pets: If you have pets, your child should help feed them, walk, and groom them.

Typing skills: Your child will probably be using a computer, so this skill is necessary for school and beyond.

Safety: There are many things that fall under this category, including fire prevention, personal safety when walking alone, safety of others, and more.

Getting Started

Once you come up with the life skills you're interested in teaching, simply fold them into your daily schedule. For instance, you could teach money skills or talk about persuasive messaging three days a week. Messaging is a big topic for me because there are so many traps being set out there for the uninformed and naive.

Point out how credit card commercials make life seem so exciting and carefree when you own a credit card, when in reality millions of people are in debt. Build a birdhouse together to learn how to use tools and add in a lesson about your local ecosystem. Your kids could also clean up each day, organize the classroom, or practice typing.

There really is no limit and the great thing is, you are seriously preparing your kids to become self-reliant and confident adults. Now that's awesome!

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Adding Life Skills to Your Homeschool Curriculum

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When I first started homeschooling I was always caught up in focusing on the core subjects. Sure, we did chores together and occasionally made lunch as a group, but that was it. I never really considered life skills as that important. When I look back at that time, I realize now my decision was silly-I'm being kind to myself!

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a handful of quiet: happiness in four pebbles

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mind & spirit / mindfulness & meditation

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mind & spirit / mindfulness & meditation

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A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles

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A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles [Nhat Hanh, Thich] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles

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children's / teenage personal & social issues: body & health

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personal & social issues: body & health (children's / teenage)

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personal & social issues: body & health (children's / teenage)

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Moody Cow Meditates - Kindle edition by MacLean, Kerry Lee. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Moody Cow Meditates.

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These are some of my favorite books for kids.

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Children can learn mindfulness from us and from books. Which is why I've made this big list of the best mindfulness picture books for kids, many of which include helpful mantras and meditations.

Mindfulness is an important life strategy proven to reduce stress and develop positivity. It's being aware of all that the present moment is - our feelings, the sensations in our bodies, the sounds, sights, smells of the world around us, and so on.

The Big List of Mindfulness Books for Kids

Here and Now by Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale
I love this book so much! Readers learn about being present in your body as well as being aware of the world around you. It's a guided meditation in a picture book! " The book is in your lap, or in your hands, or in someone else's." It continues with you noticing your bottom, and your feet on the floor. Then it moves to an awareness of the world... " Right here, right now, while you are reading this book, many, many things are happening: Rain is forming in the belly of a cloud. An ant has finished its home on the other side of the planet. " Gorgeous artwork. Important concepts.

Breathe with Me by Mariam Gates
I love how Gates makes breathing accessible to children with powerful imagery. For example, when you're sleepy in the morning and can't wake up - try doing Rainbow Breath. Illustrated with a girl sitting under a rainbow we read about Rainbow Breath:
"Sit up and let your spine grow tall.
Bring your arms out straight to
the sides, palms down.
Inhale and sweep your arms up over your head palm to palm.
Exhale and bring your arms back
straight out to the sides, palms down.

Repeat three times. "

Or when you're nervous about something new, try Dandelion Breath. (I LOVE the idea of blowing a dandelion, don't you?) The book has five different ways to think about your breathing in total. And I think they're all so brilliantly relatable for kids.

Now by Antoinette Portis
This little girl knows how to live in the moment. " This is my favorite hole (this one) // because it's the one I'm digging." She appreciates the now. " That is my favorite cloud // because it's the one I am watching." We can learn a lot from her gratitude for the present moment. " This is my favorite now // because it's the one I am having // with you."

Puppy Mind by Andrew Jorda Nance, illustrated by Jim Durk
Zen monks call it a monkey mind but I think kids can really understand puppy mind better. (This also explains the ADHD "squirrel" brain.) Like a puppy who is always wandering off, our brains can do that, too. To keep our brains focused on the present, we can breathe. Lovely illustrations throughout this simple book that gives kids a powerful metaphor.

What Does It Mean to Be Present? by Rana DiOrio, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
Practical examples with real children show you what being present in the moment looks and feels like. Very well done and relatable for kids.

Mindful Kids: 50 Activities for Calm, Focus and Peace by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun
Beautiful illustrations with diversity (!!) give kids 50 games, visualizations, and exercises to promote mindfulness in 5 categories: feeling grounded, finding calm, improving focus, practicing loving kindness, and relaxing. Easy step by step instructions make these accessible for kids and adults. I can't wait to try these with my kids.

I Can Handle It by Laure Wright
I love this book so much and use the mantras for ME all the time. It's so great to have this positive affirmation going through my head and my kids heads. Things get hard. But I can handle it.

Breathe and Be: A Book of Mindfulness Poems by Kate Coombs, illustrated by Anna Emilia Laitinen
A picture book to help us be mindful of the present moments! These little poems are great to read one at a time and discuss the meaning with your kids. I've taken photos of the pages to send to friends who need a little encouragement.

Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
Learn about breathing deeply with motions and visuals starting with A for Alligator Breath. "Open your arms wide like alligator jaws on the in-breath. Snap them shut on the out-breath." It continues with every letter of the alphabet like the Butterfly Breath, Cake Breath, Flower Breath, Ninja Breath, and Yawning Breath. We like to do one per day. Read, practice, and assimilate. Discuss which breaths you like the best.

Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee Maclean
The Peaceful Piggy Meditation book includes lovely activities and prompts for meditation - for kids and pigs. 🙂

Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children by Thich Nhat Hahn, illustrated by Wietske Vriezen, edited by Chan Chau Nghiem
A teacher friend spent time at Thich Nhat Hahn's Plum Village teaching mindfulness to the children of visitors. This book is based on the practices used at Plum Village and provides specific activities and dialogue to encourage mindfulness practice.

Meditation is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids by Whitney Stewart, illustrated by Sally Rippin
I wish my kids liked this book but we haven't found a meditation they connect with as of yet. It is written speaking directly to the kids, not meant for a parent to read aloud to them. Each of the meditations have a purpose such as focus, security, wisdom, and relaxation.

Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and their parents) by Eline Snel
I've just listen to some of the content on the CD that accompanies this book and think it's something I'll buy and try with my kids. See for yourself here.

MindUP Curriculum
First, the kids learn about their brains . . . how the sensory input starts at their amygdala, the fight, flight, or freeze response, and then, if all goes well, how the information travels to the prefrontal cortex where the rational brain makes a decision on that input. Then, the curriculum continues on with mindful awareness practices such as sharping each sense, learning to take different perspectives, and being mindful in the world around us. The activities in each lesson not only always explain the brain science, but they provide ideas to engage, explore, and reflect on the learning goal. I'm very impressed with this curriculum!

Mindful Games Activity Cards: 55 Fun Ways to Share Mindfulness with Kids and Teens by Susan Kaiser Greenland and Annaka Harris
I'm looking forward to trying these games to practice attention, balance, and compassion as well as breathing!

Also read: Yoga for Kids: Practice, Books, Videos & Games , Teaching Mindfulness to Kids
You Might Also Like:
Ways to Help Kids with Anxiety

Positive Affirmations for Kids

Teaching Mindfulness to Kids

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The Big List of Mindfulness Books for Kids | Imagination Soup

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Children can learn mindfulness from us and from books. Which is why I've made this big list of the best mindfulness picture books for kids, many of which include helpful mantras and meditations. Mindfulness is an important life strategy proven to reduce stress and develop positivity.

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This series of easy exercises serves as an introduction into mindfulness to teach little ones (ages 3+) how to unlock their own sense of stillness and wonder in the present moment.

Designed to empower young kids with basic techniques like awareness, breathing, meditation, gratitude, and stretching, we hope to embolden their inherent capacity for calm, confidence, and joy available to them at all times. This collection serves as a great addition to your kids' morning rituals or bedtime routines.

Each deck comes with 40 two-sided cards with watercolor illustrations for the little ones as well as more detailed instructions for parents, teachers, and caretakers.

Frequently Asked Questions
For Parents: These cards are intentionally very simple and shouldn't take much time. Use them at the breakfast table to help your little one get centered for the day. Take them with you to the park and practice the more active exercises. Try them during quiet times to help calm them down. Make them your own.

For Teachers: Many teachers enjoy using the cards as a way to kick-off their morning routines with kids. Whether it be circle time or your daily check-ins, these cards serve as nice prompts to jump start the day. Alternatively, we've also heard of teachers using them to conclude the class and help students wind down and reflect. Whatever works best for you!

Age Range: While we designed the cards for little ones in mind (ages 3-7), we've received great feedback from "older kids" (and parents!) who've found them very helpful. The practices of mindfulness are intentionally simple so they really do work for most age ranges. If you're looking for a simple introduction, these will work well.

International Shipping: Right now, we offer orders in the US and Canada. If you're looking to purchase 10 decks or more, please reach out to us directly at info@littlerenegades.com.

Wholesale Orders: We love working with local shops, schools, and studios to distribute our cards. If you're interested in purchasing 10 units or more, please reach out to us directly at info@littlerenegades.com.

Our Sustainability Promise: We believe in showing kids a pathway towards a more conscious world. This includes how we design, produce, and ship our products that are safe for our kids and our planet. Because of this, we've removed all plastic wrap from our products. Our mats and our card decks are now protected by recycled cardboard wrappers to ensure we're doing our part to eliminate unnecessary plastic waste. And a better world for all!

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This series of easy exercises serves as an introduction into mindfulness to teach little ones (ages 3+) how to unlock their own sense of stillness and wonder in the present moment. Designed to empower young kids with basic techniques like awareness, breathing, meditation, gratitude, and stretching, we hope to embolden

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Get the free Official Geocaching app and join the world's largest treasure hunt.

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There are millions of geocaches worldwide, just waiting for you to find them. There are probably even some within walking distance of where you are right now. Visit Geocaching.com to see just how many geocaches are nearby and to learn how to start finding them.

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Letterboxing is an intriguing pastime combining artistic ability with delightful treasure-hunts in beautiful, scenic places, and Atlas Quest is your passport to this intriguing hobby.

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Rain or shine, every day is the perfect day for an adventure with Nature Cat! Use the camera, microphone, drawing tools and more to create nature explorer journals. The app's on-the-go tool set makes it easy to record and share observations in fun and creative ways. Onward and Yonward Adventurers!

**NEW IN VERSION 2.0.0**

100 DAILY NATURE ADVENTURES - Whether rain or shine, at home or on the go, nature adventures for any kind of day!

100 MORE STICKERS ADDED - Now earn even more stickers as you complete Nature Adventures!

PHOTOBOMB FEATURE - Take pictures and selfies with Nature Cat and his friends!

BADGES - Unlock Nature Badges for your Nature Explorer sash as you complete Nature Adventures!

Based on the hit PBS KIDS show, Nature Cat's Great Outdoors is the on-the-go toolset that will inspire your child to explore nature - in the backyard, at a local park or even looking out the window. Every day, Nature Cat has a set of new daily adventures that lets kids use tools to record and share their observations in fun, creative ways!
DAILY NATURE ADVENTURES

100+ adventure prompts given daily to get kids using tools, thinking about nature and recording their observations

Filter by rain, snow, sun, and indoor to play any time

Daily Nature Adventures are saved in a special journal so kids can go and revisit what they have explored
NATURE TOOLS

Take photos and selfies with Daisy's camera

Record sounds with Hal and his microphone

Use journal art tools to insert photos, sounds, stickers in addition to drawing, stamping, and painting.

Create an endless amount of journals filled with your own nature adventures
REWARDS
Earn achievement badges for your Nature Explorer sash the more Daily Adventures you complete. Unlock over 100 stickers as Daily Nature Adventures are completed to use in your journal.

Onward and Onward!!
ABOUT NATURE CAT
Nature Cat's Great Outdoors app is based on the Emmy-nominated PBS KIDS series Nature Cat, co-produced by Spiffy Pictures and WTTW Chicago, designed to extend the series' science curriculum. Watch Nature Cat anytime on the PBS KIDS Video App and find more games and activities at pbskids.org/naturecat Less -

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Nature Cat's Great Outdoors Mobile Downloads | PBS KIDS

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Rain or shine, every day is the perfect day for an adventure with Nature Cat! Use the camera, microphone, drawing tools and more to create nature explorer journals. The app's on-the-go tool set makes it easy to record and share observations in fun and creative ways. Onward and Yonward Adventurers!

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At Vilda, we strengthen our connections to the natural world. We spend time outdoors with our hands in the dirt and feet on the ground. We plant trees, clear brush, look for frogs, eat wild plants, make a fire by friction or dye a shirt with berries. We learn real skills that allow us to remember that we truly are an important part of this landscape. The kids in our programs experience hands-on that they can make a positive difference in the world.
Vilda offers summer camps, after school programs, backpacking trips, homeschool programs, specialty workshops and more.

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At Vilda, we strengthen our connections to the natural world. We spend time outdoors with our hands in the dirt and feet on the ground. We plant trees, clear brush, look for frogs, eat wild plants, make a fire by friction or dye a shirt with berries.

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For families when children are not in school.

Local schools may not be in session every weekday. Trackers is actively exploring options for outdoor adventure for families who need care in fall. Our final programming structure will be based on parents' needs, Contra Costa Health Services guidelines, and staffing availability.

Options could include programs 1-3 days a week. Fill out our interest form at this link.

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For families when children are not in school. Local schools may not be in session every weekday. Trackers is actively exploring options for outdoor adventure for families who need care in fall. Our final programming structure will be based on parents' needs, Contra Costa Health Services guidelines, and staffing availability.

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Learn More at mathantics.com
Visit http://www.mathantics.com for more FREE math videos and additional subscription based content!

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... As Serious as It Needs to Be.

Life of Fred Mathematics

So, you think math is boring and there is nothing much anyone can do to make it "un-boring"?

You think the average person can't really ever understand math, and "Who needs it?" if you have a calculator in hand!

Introducing: Life of Fred Math

Never again hear the question which many math students have: "When are we ever gonna use this stuff?" or "Math is boring!"

No other textbooks are like these. Each text is written in the style of a novel with a humorous story line. Each section tells part of the life of Fred Gauss and how, in the course of his life, he encounters the need for the math and then learns the methods. Tons of solved examples. Each hardcover textbook contains ALL of the material - more than most instructors cover in traditional classroom settings. Includes tons of proofs.

Written by Dr. Stanley Schmidt with the intent to make math come alive with lots of humour, clear explanations, and silly illustrations that stick in the mind. The student will learn to think mathematically.

Completion of this series prepares student for third year college math.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These books are designed to make your child THINK! and to learn on their own. It does not give step-by-step directions and answers to every question. They learn to apply to current questions the concepts previously taught. Upon completion they will understand how math works, why it works, and how to apply it. They will know the formulas and how to apply them in real-life situations, not just situations created for a textbook. This program relies heavily on reading comprehension and thinking, not rote spoon-fed learning that is quickly forgotten. Parents can learn these novel methods along with the student, but should not try to integrate the traditional rote/memorization methods.

We do not publish Life of Fred books but are proud to offer them to you. Our goal is to come alongside the publisher to help them be successful in getting their materials out to the public and to provide you, the end user, a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

We do not undersell the publisher. We send free gifts with orders of $50 or more (before shipping, our choice of items), give personalized service, answer questions, give suggestions where needed, and provide fliers containing comprehensive tips and ideas for the most effective usage of Life of Fred and Professor B Math.

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As Serious as It Needs to Be. So, you think math is boring and there is nothing much anyone can do to make it "un-boring"? You think the average person can't really ever understand math, and "Who needs it?" if you have a calculator in hand!

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25 YEARS OF SINGAPORE MATH!

25 years ago my parents introduced the original Primary Mathematics textbooks and workbooks to a few parents in our community of West Linn, Oregon. We had just moved from Singapore where I had attended public school, and, unimpressed by the math education at my new school, my parents wondered if other students and parents might benefit from the Singapore math curriculum...

The Secrets to Singapore's World-class Math Curriculum

This book provides an inside look at Singapore math. Written by Wenxi Lee, a Singaporean who grew up using the method and is now a math education researcher, The Secrets to Singapore's World-class Math Curriculum explains how and why Singapore math works. She weaves personal experience with fascinating research in this approachable yet highly informative read.

DIMENSIONS MATH AT HOME™️ Videos

This comprehensive subscription provides in-depth video lessons for all Dimensions Math Grades 1-6 chapters.

Preview videos here to see why this is a game-changing addition to your Singapore math toolkit.

Dimensions Math PK-5 Resources

Blackline Masters (BLM), Printouts, and more.

Access all Dimensions Math PK-5 resources to use alongside your Dimensions Math Home Instructor's Guides and Teacher's Guides here.

Dimensions Math Resources

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Testimonials

This is a wonderful site. I always spend a lot of time trying to help my kids at school and after I found this site, everything became easier. The kids love studying, they have motivation, and they are learning every day.

Maite L., parent

Ottawa, Ontario

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IXL | Math and English Language Arts Practice

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IXL is the world's most popular subscription-based learning site. Used by over 10 million students, IXL provides unlimited practice in more than 4500 math and English language arts topics. Interactive questions, awards and certificates keep kids motivated as they master skills.

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A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.

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reTHINKING school.

Whether homeschooling, distance learning or something else, there are so many useful online links, articles and resources. Here I have gathered my favorites - ones that helped me to plan and organize for our travel year in 2018/2019.

For more from our travel year and how we travelschooled, visit our blog at https://wanderkidsabroad.com/

Scroll right for more columns.

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Monday night I sat on my back patio staring up into a rare, starry Chicago night. I squinted and made out each point of The Big Dipper and then turned to see what I decided was Mars, twinkling in the distance. My partner and I sat in city silence, wrapped in a perfect, nearly unrecognizable temperature-and-breeze blanket. For an hour or so we reveled in this brief peace bubble and I gave myself permission to dream:

"What if?" I thought. What if we did something different, on purpose? What if we refused to return to normal? Every week seems to introduce a new biblical plague and unsurprisingly, the nation is turning to schools to band-aid the situation and create a sense of "normalcy"-the same normalcy that has failed BIPOC communities for decades.

In her memoir, When They Call You a Terrorist, Patrisse Khan-Cullors states that "our nation [is] one big damn Survivor reality nightmare". It always has been. America's criminal navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic further highlights the ways we devalue the lives of the most vulnerable. We all deserve better than Survivor and I don't want to help sustain this nightmare. I want to be a part of something better.

What If We Designed a School Year for Recovery?

"What if?" I thought. What if Chicago Public Schools (CPS) did something radical with this school year? What if this fastest-improving urban district courageously liberated itself from narrow and rigid quantitative measures of intelligence that have colonized the education space for generations, and instead blazed a trail for reimagining what qualifies as valuable knowledge?

What if we put our money, time and energy into what we say matters most? What if this school year celebrated imagination? In We Got This, Cornelius Minor reminds us that "education should function to change outcomes for whole communities." What if we designed a school year that sought to radically shift how communities imagine, problem solve, heal, and connect?

What if this messy school year prioritized hard truths and accountability? What if social emotional instruction wasn't optional or reduced to one cute poster? What if we focused on district wide capacity-building for, and facilitation of, restorative justice practices?

What if the CPS Office of Social Emotional Learning (OSEL) had more than about 15 restorative practice coaches to serve over 600 schools? What if we let students name conflicts and give them the space, tools, and support to address and resolve them? What if restorative justice was a central part of this year's curricula?

What If We Really Listened?

What if we made space to acknowledge the fear, anxiety, frustration and confusion students, staff, and families are feeling? What if we listened? What if we made space to acknowledge the anger and demands of students? What if our priority was healing? Individual and collective. What if we respected and honored the work of healers and invested in healing justice?

What if our rising 8th-graders and seniors prepared for high school and post-secondary experiences by centering their humanity and the humanity of others? What if healthy, holistic, interconnected citizenship was a learning objective? What if we tracked executive functioning skills and habits of mind? What if for "homework" families had healing conversations?

What If We Made Life the Curriculum?

What if we recognized that life-our day-to-day circumstances and our response to them-is curricula? It's the curricula students need, especially now as our country reckons with its identity. What if we remembered that reading, writing, social studies, mathematics, and science are built into our understanding of and response to events every day?

Here are some examples in the humanities. Reading: comprehension and analysis of the perspectives put forth about the twin pandemics (COVID-19 and, as Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III has come to call it, COVID-1619). Writing: thoughtful and supported arguments for equitable allocation of federal and local resources. Social studies: design and execution of public actions that educate and empower communities.

We can do this in math and science, too. Mathematics: calculation of distribution options for COVID stimulus checks. Science: inquiry about virus transmission and the role of vaccines... the possibilities are endless.

When we structure students learning around their lived experiences and present needs, they not only develop content knowledge and skills but they grow to care about and for one another. They are equipped to collaboratively face the world they are inheriting.

This work is happening in pockets around the city. But this moment invites us to expand the degree to and frequency with which social emotional knowledge and skills, restorative practices, and culturally and socially responsive curricula are implemented.

Let's Stop Policing Our Imaginations

While reading Charlene Carruthers' Unapologetic a few weeks ago, I highlighted the lines: "Anti-Blackness works 24/7 to kill the Black imagination... The destructiveness is ongoing, chronic, but it is manifested acutely. It tells our children to dream of a better future instead of a better now, in the communities where they live."

Lately, I am acutely aware of how intentionally I have to work in order to renew my own lost imagination. How much have we snuffed out the what-if imaginations of our students with policies that police their bodies and minds, inequitably and unimaginatively distribute funding to schools, and tolerate out-of-date, counter-revolutionary curricula?

The removal of police from schools, after all, does not eliminate all forms of policing. What if we didn't police the imaginations of students?

What if enough is enough? No one is coming to the rescue. We can rescue ourselves. We must. As the fifth core assumption/belief of restorative justice states: Everything we need to make positive change is already here. We just have to let our students, families, neighbors, and friends tell us what they need. And we show up. And we learn together.

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What If We Radically Reimagined the New School Year?

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Monday night I sat on my back patio staring up into a rare, starry Chicago night. I squinted and made out each point of The Big Dipper and then turned to see what I decided was Mars, twinkling in the distance. My partner and I sat in city silence, wrapped in a perfect, nearly unrecognizable temperature-and-breeze blanket.

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I've taught in a variety of educational settings ranging from kindergarten to higher education. I earned my doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia and am currently teaching preservice and inservice teachers as an online course instructor at UVA. I am passionate about social studies at all grade levels, especially when it comes to geography and history. Oh and I also love the Olympics! I am continuously working to expand the products offered in my store, so check back for updates and follow me by clicking the green star above! I am very interested in providing K-12 teachers with materials they need, so please feel free to contact me if you have an idea for a project or lesson that you would like me to create. katie.loftin@gmail.com

I try to develop high-interest, interactive lessons that my students will enjoy while being tricked into gaining a deeper understanding of whatever topics are being addressed.

HONORS/AWARDS/SHINING TEACHER MOMENT

Yet to be added

MY OWN EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia---M.A. in Education from the University of Tulsa---B.A. in Political Science from Rice University

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Yet to be added

English Language Arts, Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary, Specialty, Math, Science, Basic Principles, Earth Sciences, Environment, Other (Science), Social Studies - History, Ancient History, Civics, Government, Native Americans, U.S. History, European History, World History, World Language, Arts & Music, Physical Education, Career and Technical Education, Finance, ELA Test Prep, Canadian History, Australian History, Geography, Other (Social Studies - History), Other (ELA), Religion, For All Subject Areas, Literature, Classroom Management, Business, Psychology, Economics , Character Education, General Science, Criminal Justice - Law, Forensics, Writing, Asian Studies, Holidays/Seasonal, Thanksgiving, Christmas/ Chanukah/ Kwanzaa, Halloween, Winter, Valentine's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Black History Month, Products For TpT Sellers, Earth Day, For All Subjects, Summer, Informational Text, Test Preparation, Women's History Month

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I've taught in a variety of educational settings ranging from kindergarten to higher education. I earned my doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia and am currently teaching preservice and inservice teachers as an online course instructor at UVA.

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5 Life Habits Built Into a Charlotte Mason Education

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Pin by reThinking school on learn at home: For parents only. | Teaching kids, Life skills, Parenting skills

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May 24, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by reThinking school. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest

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I'm saving this for next year! | Chores for kids, Summer rules, Kids parenting

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May 24, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by reThinking school. Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest

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I am loving this idea!! The kids do a chore and earn their TV or tablet time! #Responsibility | Chores for kids, Chore chart kids, Chore chart

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May 24, 2019 - I am loving this idea!! The kids do a chore and earn their TV or tablet time! #Responsibility

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You can print this chart for FREE

See more free lists!

Use any list from your phone or tablet!

Kids hate to clean. Telling my kids that we need to do some cleaning is sure to result in immediate arguments and excuses and attempts to get out of it. And I can't really blame them. I hate cleaning too.

I have learned, though, that at least SOME of the hatred of cleaning comes from feeling like the chore is overwhelming and never ending. And after stopping to talk to my kids about why this is, it turns out that they don't have a good idea of what I mean when I tell them we need to clean. To them, it just seems like an unlimited number of chores that they can't predict and it just goes on and on with no end in sight.

I created these lists to help my kids know exactly what I mean when I ask them to clean a room. They still don't really want to do the chores, but the grumbling lessens when they can at least see there is a beginning and an end to the jobs expected of them. You can print these all as is for free, or edit them for $4.95 to make them just right for your family.

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and optional kid-sized clipboard with 4-color pen

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I created these lists to help my kids know exactly what I mean when I ask them to clean a room. They still don't really want to do the chores, but the grumbling lessens when they can at least see there is a beginning and an end to the jobs expected of them.

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Differentiated Teaching: Helping Busy Teachers Support Student Success

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Helping busy teachers support struggling & reluctant learners

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What if students controlled their own learning? | Peter Hutton | TEDxMelbourne

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Any topic, online, small groups, ages.

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Explore Any Interest

From phonics to AP Physics to Minecraft to Piano, Outschool feeds your kid's curiosity and elevates their learning with a variety of 50,000+ classes.

Learn With Peers

Grow your learner's confidence in and out of the classroom with live video classes that meet in small groups.

Inspiring Teachers

Our approved teachers consist of professional educators, artist, scientists, and inspired adults with an expertise to share. Interested in teaching? Apply Here

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Outschool: Take small-group classes, from anywhere.

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From phonics to AP Physics to Minecraft to Piano, Outschool feeds your kid's curiosity and elevates their learning with a variety of 50,000+ classes. Grow your learner's confidence in and out of the classroom with live video classes that meet in small groups.

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A podcast can help create the structure for supplemental learning.

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28 Podcasts That Kids Will Love and Parents Can Tolerate

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One Subscription For The Whole Family

Get instant access to Learn at Home with experiences tailored by age. Your child can work across grades to help build their skills.

Subscription is ongoing with automatic monthly charges and the subscriber can cancel anytime, as described in our Subscriber Agreement. This program can only be purchased in the U.S.

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Subscription is ongoing with automatic monthly charges and the subscriber can cancel anytime, as described in our Subscriber Agreement. This program can only be purchased in the U.S.

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TED Talks are pretty amazing - and once you start watching them, they can become quite obsessive. Which isn't a bad thing considering there are so many talks on seriously interesting topics that can keep you entertained for days.

One of my favourite topics to watch are TED Talks for parents, because this parenting gig is pretty darn difficult and it's nice to know we aren't alone.

Which is why I created a round up of the best of the best. The most amazing TED Talks for parents that are in the 'must watch' category.
(Read the article now, and save it for later too - Pin It) Related: 9 Powerful TED Talks To Boost Your Self Confidence
1 - Jennifer Senior: For Parents, Happiness Is A Very High Bar

Parenting + Anxiety is something many of us know all too well. There's no manual on how to raise children properly, so the idea of raising children to a standard that isn't actually determined is pretty darn stressful.

This talk is like a big hug of 'you're doing okay mama'. Love it.

2 - Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs a Champion

A brilliant insight into the importance of connections and relationships between children and their educators. "Kids don't learn from people they don't like."

The role of teachers in our children's lives is so powerful.

Having a teacher who believes in our children, who doesn't just dismiss them and push them to the side, can be life-changing.

3 - Roberto D'Angelo & Francesca Fedeli: In Our Baby's Illness, A Life Lesson

When it comes to parenting challenges, dealing with a serious illness would have to be one of the most difficult.

I related so much to the part where they say they felt like failures as parents, I felt the same way when my son was in NICU - like, what was it that I missed? What was it that I did wrong?

I love so much how they adapted and pushed forward through their challenges. All the feels.

4 - Sarah Kay: If I Should Have A Daughter...

Such a beautiful talk that starts with an incredible spoken word poem that will get you thinking about what we want for our kids in this world.

I love how Sarah talks about breaking down the walls of communication with her students (particularly teenagers) who feel as though they have nothing to say, but using her methods actually find they can open up and share their thoughts.

5 - Adira Svitak - What Adults Can Learn From Kids

I absolutely adore this TED Talk, and not just because it's being presented by a 12 year old. Adora challenges learning to be a two way street, where children learn from adults and adults learn from children.

She talks about how children don't see obstacles like adults do and therefore their scope of possibilities is much wider.

A great reminder for us when we keep saying 'you can't do that' to our kids (I know I do...).

6 - Jamie Oliver: Teach Every Child About Food

This was the very first TED Talk I ever watched (and from that moment was hooked!).

I love Jamie's passion for teaching kids about real food and as an extension, getting real food into schools all around the world. Such an important message for our kids.

7 - Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman: Exploding 4 Taboos of Parenting

Literally, every single parent will be able to relate to this. Rufus and Alisa created the website Babble (later acquired by Disney) as a way to share real life parenting moments.

A really refreshing, uplifting and funny talk (especially the first taboo - I totally get it!) It really opens your eyes to how alone we can feel as parents, but how so many other parents are feeling the same way too.

8 - Reshma Saujani: Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection

A great talk for parents of girls - challenging the way we approach our way of talking to our girls and how we encourage them in taking risks, rather than being 'perfect'.

It really makes you think socialising girls to be brave and the differences that can be made by closing the gender gap.

9 - Gever Tulley: 5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do

Do you think we protect our kids too much?

We often think of the dangers that face our kids, but Gever challenges our thoughts on these based on the evidence that shows where the real dangers are, and how we can safely allow our kids to do the 'dangerous' things.

In all honesty, this is a short list, but one that I hope inspires you to keep listening, keep learning and keep asking questions about the world and about how we raise our children.

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TED Talks are pretty amazing - and once you start watching them, they can become quite obsessive. Which isn't a bad thing considering there are so many talks on seriously interesting topics that can keep you entertained for days.

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Wide Open School's mission lives on at Common Sense

With schools back in person, we have closed this dedicated distance-learning site designed to guide families and educators through the sudden shift to remote learning.
Discover More Great Resources for Families & Educators
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We are grateful to our supporters and partners for helping to bring these resources to kids, families, and educators everywhere during a global crisis. It is a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to education and digital access for all.

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Wide Open School's mission lives on at Common Sense With schools back in person, we have closed this dedicated distance-learning site designed to guide families and educators through the sudden shift to remote learning. Discover More Great Resources for Families & Educators