I used to believe learning was for the young. If we learned enough in school, we’d be prepared for careers and families. But as I have grown older — and hopefully wiser — I know that learning comes with each new day.

When we think of scholars like Socrates, Einstein, or Aristotle, we are reminded of great learners and their eternal quest for knowledge. But how do we develop that quest in children and teens – the drive that propels them to embrace the practice of learning throughout their lives?

Thanks to research in neuroscience and human development, scientists can now explain how learning happens from cradle to grave.  It turns out that lifelong learning is a natural part of being alive.

But some people are more open to learning throughout their lives than others. They seek out and respond to experiences in ways that challenge their minds, hearts, and bodies.  It is as though learning flows through them like blood through veins.

Becoming a seeker of lifelong learning is critical in today’s fast-changing world. Learning is not only a matter of absorbing information but a process of developing many other internal skills, like curiosity, perseverance, and the ability to tackle tough challenges. read more »

Do you parent, teach, or mentor a child with special needs? Of course you do!

As you know, the term special needs is most often associated with disabilities. It usually refers to a child who needs special assistance or accommodations for medical, psychological, or learning deficits.

But have we allowed the term special needs to create a cloud of darkness over children? Don’t all children have special needs? And can’t those special needs be sources of light and wisdom?

I raised a child with special needs, a daughter who was diagnosed with learning disabilities and ADHD. Of course, we gave her additional support and taught her how to advocate for her differences. But what most struck me from a developmental perspective was how much my daughter’s special needs were just like all of her peers.

The truth is that all children have special needs as they journey through childhood and adolescence. They feel awkward and different at times, insecure, and challenged by situations beyond their controls. read more »

If you’re like most adults, you are probably a bit skeptical about the value of video games for children.

I’ll be the first to admit my own bias, particularly against violent games.

As I’ve watched my grandchildren play video games on smartphones and iPads, I’ve often wondered how it will affect their long-term development. But has research focused so heavily on the negative outcomes associated with video games that we’ve neglected to see the positive?

A recent article in the Journal of Adolescent Research caught my attention. It showed:

• Video games are the fastest growing type of entertainment in the world.
• 97% of U.S. adolescents play video games.
• Most young people ages 8-18 play video games an average of 13.2 hours per week.

I’m sure these figures are not shocking to the companies who develop and market video games to kids. But quite honestly, I was caught by surprise. Even more unexpected, the article challenged me to question my negative bias about video games. read more »

With the beginning of each school year comes an opportunity to wipe the grade slate clean — to ramp up expectations for high academic achievement in our children.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with good grades. That is, unless the stress of getting an “A” causes children to fail at developing the kinds of abilities that matter much more than grades. Even for children who naturally perform well on academic tests, a good grade is only one measurement of success. A few things that school testing cannot measure include:

• Open-Mindedness
• Effort
• Social & Emotional Intelligence
• Critical thinking
• Initiative
• Creativity
• Collaboration
• Curiosity
• Respect
• Kindness
• Capacity to love
• Honesty
• Compassion

Internal strengths, like those listed above, are far more important to a life of success and well-being than whether a child earns an “A” on an Algebra exam or are accepted to a top-rated university. In fact, many tests only measure a student’s ability to produce a correctly memorized answer. read more »

Do you secretly see a budding genius in your child? Well, you may be right. At least Rick Ackerly, author of The Genius in Every Child, thinks so. And he makes a darn good argument!

A former elementary school principal, Ackerly writes convincingly about important conversations in today’s world of education and parenting. He wants parents and teachers to focus on the long term development of children rather than short run accomplishments.

Ackerly would like grownups to shift from a focus on test scores to a focus on enthusiasm for the genius in children. That genius comes by developing character, curiosity, and creativity.

Education is essentially backwards, Ackerly claims. Most people think of education as something we do to someone else:

Education is leading, not directing. Education is leading the genius out into the world to function creatively, effectively, and gracefully within it. Doing something to anyone is not education. Mobilizing the child’s genius, their inner authority, their teacher within, is critical for the success of the enterprise. Genius is the engine of education and the taproot of our learning. read more »

Did you dream of your children’s college success before they entered kindergarten? You are not alone!

While it’s natural to visualize success, how to prepare youth for college is multifaceted. Will success emerge from good grades, extra-curricular activities, and a resume of accomplishments? Will it come from being kind, believing in self, and developing positive relationships?

Of course, all of these things play a role in children’s college admittance. But recent research sheds light on another important aspect of how kids succeed beyond high school and how parents and teachers can nurture realistic expectations in children that pay big dividends when they get to college.

You’ve likely heard the term entitlement, defined by the American Psychiatric Association as “unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with expectations.” In today’s college environment, a new term has emerged called academic entitlement. It refers to a student’s expectation that they receive high grades, regardless of performance. read more »

When David McCullough Jr. delivered the commencement address at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts this week, it turned out to be more special than anticipated. Why?

Because McCullough was gutsy enough to speak words rarely heard by teenagers. “You are not special,” he said. “You are not exceptional.”

As he went on to fully describe how graduates had been pampered and fawned over by adults, he spoke a great truth: “If everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless.”

A teacher of 26 years, David McCullough Jr. put in words what many educators and psychologists have been preaching for years, that education should be about learning, not about gaining material advantage. Without using the term social justice, he talked to graduates about the responsibilities of privilege, inviting them to experience the selflessness and joy that comes with the “recognition that you’re not special. Because everyone is.” read more »

For thousands of years, heroic stories have been used to inspire, motivate, and transfer cultural values to children. The stories have a common pattern.

They begin with a likeable hero who encounters a challenge or roadblock in life. And then, with the help of others, the hero emerges from the difficult situation transformed by his or her experiences.

Heroic stories are found everywhere in modern media.

Beautiful Snow White is protected from the wicked queen by the seven dwarfs. Her life is threatened when the queen, disguised as a peddler, finds Snow White and poisons her with an apple. Rescued by the Prince, she is transformed by true love.

In Avatar, Jake Sully is a paralyzed ex-Marine who has an opportunity to walk again through a proxy Na’vi body in the world of Pandora. But he encounters an unexpected challenge. He falls in love with a Na’vi woman, Neytin, and is forced to choose sides in an epic battle between the humans and the Na’vi people. With the help of many, Jake’s leadership prevails and the humans are defeated. Jake is permanently transformed in a Na’vi body where he lives the rest of his life with Neytin. read more »

Where you one of the thousands of parents who just left your college freshman in an unfamiliar place? 

For college freshman and their families, September is usually a time of excitement and trepidation – an honored American rite of passage. But what has changed for you and your child? And how will your son or daughter continue to need your support?

It has been ten years since we traveled from Seattle to Washington D.C. to take our daughter to college. I clearly remember the buzz of freshman making their way through orientation, parents lining up at hardware stores to buy extra picture hangers, and the churning in my stomach as we said our goodbyes. What laid ahead for our daughter? Developmental growth and maturation facilitated by unpredictable life experiences and lots of parental love, guidance, and support! read more »