Before my daughter entered elementary school, I knew she learned differently from other kids. But I always imagined that no matter how she learned, her future teachers would create an environment where she would thrive and we would work as partners to support her learning. My view of education was […]
Curiosity
When it comes to youth leadership, Eden Eskaros is learning about social innovation at a young age. On a recent trip to Mexico, Eden, age 10, was horrified to learn that children lived in dismal situations, using cardboard boxes as beds. She also noticed they had no shoes. Eden […]
Empathy
Whether or not your children play sports, you probably have an opinion about the value of sports in children’s lives. You may believe that sports help children develop teamwork skills, self-confidence, resiliency, moral character, and other personal strengths. Or you may see a dark side of youth sports, believing that […]
Resilience
Meet Dorothy Law Nolte. She’s a woman who understood the field of positive youth development before it was invented. Born in 1924, Dorothy Law Nolte became a parent educator, family counselor, and writer known for her inspirational poem, Children Learn What They Live. First published in 1954, it was pasted […]
Compass-Inspired
Do you ever wonder how children grow up to be happy, fulfilled, and engaged in life? While there are no easy answers, research shows that three things make a big difference. First, children need positive life experiences that engage them in meaningful activities. Second, they need adults who help […]
Self-Awareness
Yes, service and learning go together! And parents can play an important role in helping tweens and teens get the most from service learning during the summer months! Research shows that civic engagement promotes higher academic achievement and develops many skills, including critical thinking, organizing, and planning. It also helps […]
Empathy
After-school and summer programs for teenagers can be transformative. What tweens and teens learn during their time away from school can help them develop social skills, leadership skills, greater knowledge of themselves, and foster friendships with peers. Finding meaningful programs for teenagers can be challenging. There are many choices, including […]
Sociability
Coaches and community leaders educate by example. You might know a baseball coach who motivates kids to succeed off the field as well as during games. Or a pastor or rabbi who listens intently without judgment when kids struggle to figure out who they are. These people are gifts in […]
Integrity
A teacher’s job extends far beyond academics. While teachers are hired to develop children’s skills and abilities in academics like reading, writing, history, geography, and math, there is a lot more going on in the classroom than meets the eye. Opportunities abound for students to develop hope, fairness, humor, valor, […]
Integrity
Parents and families play a key role in character development. Parents who create positive home learning environments know that communicating about academics and homework is important. They also understand that family values get passed from one generation to the next. But how we instill values and character strengths in kids […]
Self-Awareness
It’s simple. Character counts because character increases well-being and leads to a life of fulfillment. It is widely acknowledged that character –not beauty, high test scores, or wealth – account for life satisfaction. So how do children develop character during their academic climb from kindergarten through high school? Educational goals […]
Resilience
Meet Maria Rosa Reifler, a fifth grade teacher at Wilcox Elementary School in East Los Angeles who gives her students more than core curriculum. She teaches them about the value of living a life that matters. I’m struck with how Mrs. Reifler models the concepts of positive youth development in the […]
Integrity
