Protests over the murder of George Floyd and the senseless deaths of so many African Americans question our integrity and remind us that the struggle for racial equity is never-ending. I was a college student during the protests of the 1960’s. Photos like this one pushed me out of my […]
Integrity
Live Love Now: Relieve the Pressure and Find Real Connection with Our Kids is a captivating new book by New York Times best-selling author, Rachel Macy Stafford. Beautifully written, it shares inspiring stories, strategies that value people’s own experiences, and ways to apply new concepts to the shifting challenges of […]
Self-Awareness
Adults have long speculated that technology has a detrimental effect on kids’ social skills. Research has reinforced this speculation, including a UCLA study that conducted an experiment with 51 sixth graders for five days—not a large sample for reliable conclusions. Theories about how children are losing their ability to communicate […]
Sociability
Learning how to teach empathy begins with the nurturing relationships we enjoy with children. Empathy is our ability to recognize, feel, and respond to the needs and suffering of other people. It is the north point of the Compass Advantage, symbolizing the powerful outward impact that empathy has in our […]
Empathy
Research shows that young people who develop inner strengths and attributes during childhood and adolescence are more likely to flourish in school, careers, and adult life. That’s because success goes far beyond external achievements. It is driven by our core abilities to form positive relationships, collaborate, lead, and contribute to […]
Compass-Inspired
Youth programs abound today, claiming numerous positive outcomes for adolescents. What tweens and teens learn in youth programs can help them develop better social skills, become leaders, gain greater knowledge of themselves, and foster lifelong relationships. But programs vary widely in quality. What makes youth programs effective? How do you […]
Sociability
It’s a new year. Or maybe it’s just time to reflect on how your parenting practices affect your adolescent’s growth and development. Whatever the reason, a few parenting resolutions may bring surprising results for your whole family. Recent research studies show why the teenage years may be challenging for parents […]
Empathy
Are your children, students, or sports team players goal setters? Did you know that goal-setting is a skill that is highly associated with those who excel in school, work, and life? Setting goals is a common practice in the workplace; and for good reasons. Written goals provide a road map […]
Resourcefulness
“Honestly, I sometimes truly wish that ‘tools’ such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadn’t been invented. Sure, they’re great, incredibly useful, and fun time-killers. But the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful.” At first glance, you […]
Sociability
What skills do future leaders need? The answer may surprise you. Research suggests that great leadership is not about a bulleted list of teachable skills, but about the quality of the person. Why is this important to parents, teachers, and others who imagine the future leadership potential of today’s young […]
Compass-Inspired
Communities make a positive difference for children and families when they connect around common values, form meaningful relationships with each other, and provide resources that help kids flourish in life. We know this to be true, not just from research, but because we know deep in our bones that the […]
Compass-Inspired
Like many adults, I can recall the profound influence that youth mentoring has had on my life. Not only did my mentor, a high school teacher, support me through my challenging teen years, but I have felt her positive influence for a lifetime. Why is youth mentoring so important? How […]
Compass-Inspired
