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
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
Who was your role model when you were a teen? How were you inspired by them? Natalie, age 18, described her role model as a person with “a clear sense of what is important to her, putting forth the effort to improve and create things that will make a difference.” […]
Integrity
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
Children and nature go together like peanut butter and jelly, don’t they? I was one of those kids who loved both! I could be fascinated for hours watching armies of ants move bread crumbs from one ant hill to another. As I sat in our backyard cherry tree, I wondered […]
Creativity
What kind of thinker is your child? Does he believe everything on TV? Does she always figure out how to get what she wants? Does he ask questions? Does she go along with what her friends suggest? You can help develop your child’s critical thinking skills by learning a few […]
Curiosity
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
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
Helping kids navigate their life journey with initiative, courage and optimism is part of raising healthy children. Alfred D. Souza made a great point: “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to […]
Resilience
Ah, the power of music training! I was reminded a few days ago when reading a ScienceDaily research article, Childhood Music Lessons May Provide Lifelong Boost in Brain Functioning, just how powerful music training can be in a child’s life. The article says music lessons can pay off for decades, […]
Creativity
