10 Friendship Skills Every Kid Needs
As parents and adults who work with youth, we can positively impact kids’ lives through helping them build good social skills, which are, I believe, more important than academic or athletic skills. At school, very little—if any—time is spent teaching these important skills, but for youth who struggle with social skills deficits, this attention is…
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Pick a Summer Theme!
With school out, longer days, and more open space in your family’s schedule, summer offers a great opportunity to try something new! Instead of getting bogged down (like I often do) with lofty goals and plans that just aren’t realistic (like cleaning out every closet), why not pick one main theme for your family’s summer…
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[Encore] Ep. 108: Simple Acts of Giving Back with Natalie Silverstein
Show Notes Subscribe for resources and ideas for happier, more connected families. In episode 108, I’m chatting with Natalie Silverstein about her new book, Simple Acts: The Busy Family’s Guide to Giving Back. We talk about the importance of instilling the value of service and acts of kindness. She shares how she created a resource…
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Ep. 165: Cultivating Kindness
Subscribe for resources and ideas for happier, more connected families. Kindness is a character trait we value highly in our friends, family members, and co-workers, and yet our kids may not know how much we want them to be kind, considerate, contributing members of their community. For World Kindness Day (November 13 – the day…
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Ep. 135: Advice & Ideas from Teachers During COVID-19
Show notes & links. I’ve spent the past weeks talking with youth development experts who are sharing their advice and encouragement for parents during this crazy time of social distancing, sheltering at home, or what I like to now call “Iso for the Rona” (the Australian term for “Isolation for the Coronavirus” that I learned…
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30 Days of Kindness
Want to join me for 30 Days of Kindness? Since we have more time to spend with our families at home this month, how about we focus on practicing more kindness? All you need to do is commit to doing 30 kind acts during the month of April. You can participate as an individual or…
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Ep. 117: Raising Good Humans
Show notes & links available here. In Episode 117, I’m chatting with mindfulness expert Hunter Clarke-Fields, author of Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids. We talk about the importance of modeling positive responses to difficult situations and using tools like mindfulness and meditation…
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Is Kindness the Secret to a Successful Life?
Being a considerate, kind person who thinks about others is a character trait that helps children form good relationships and leads to a happier life as an adult. What does this mean for super competitive parents who want their children to succeed at all costs, even if it means cheating and being mean to others?…
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Ep. 81: The Power of One with Travis Allison
“My great passion around camp is to get more kids there, because I really believe that every kid should go to summer camp.” In Episode 81, Travis Allison and I discuss the power of one person to make a huge impact on a child’s life, not only at summer camp but also in the home.…
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Why my Family is Celebrating World Kindness Day
Like most families, we are constantly on the go between school, sports, and other activities. But as I inventory where we’re spending our time, I find (embarrassingly) that most of our activities benefit only ourselves. Our athletic pursuits are fun and keep us in shape. Our shopping keeps us fed and in current clothing styles.…
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“Pay it Forward” Day is April 24
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. -Aesop I usually rush through the day thinking about what I need to get done and consumed by all the stuff that weighs on my time and my brain. And yet, being aware of those around me and doing a simple act of kindness can change…
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Focusing on Kindness
This summer’s theme is “Cool 2B Kind.” We’ll focus on being kind to one another and carrying out acts of kindness (referred to as “GACs of kindness”), both big and small, that help form the strong friendships that GAC is all about. From the moment campers arrive, counselors will encourage them to think more about…
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