As I look at what my grandchildren, now 7 and 4, are learning from their life—home, school, and experiences in their larger community—a whisper that nagged me as a parent echoes, “Are they learning what is important?”
Parents today are trying to prepare children not just to succeed, but to navigate a complex, fast-changing world—and that tension sits underneath most of their concerns.
And a grandmother’s concerns.
Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being
Today we know more about overall mental health and emotional well-being than we did 40 years ago. How do we address anxiety and stress levels? Are we being vigilant about depression and withdrawal symptoms in our children? How do we teach coping skills to deal with our fast-moving world?
Screen Time and Technology
Since the 1960’s screen time has changed what is being taught and how it is taught to children. The full force of excessive screen time, exposure to harmful content and social media’s impact on how children see the world, makes my “Howdy-Doody“ days seem like a teapot in a tempest.
Safety
School, in past generations, was filled with friends and neighbors. School was a fun place, and you didn’t want to miss a day. Now, school seems to harbor a level of menace in terms of safety and exposure to risky behaviors. Is that really candy in the foil wrap found on the playground? There are many risk factors parents cannot control.
The Future
The world is changing at such a rapid pace that asking the popular question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” seems laughable.
What jobs will there be in twenty years? Will there be doctors, nurses, teachers, firefighters, police officers, astronauts or any of the jobs we have today?
How can we prepare our children for a future we cannot see? What academic skills do our children need to succeed in the uncertain times ahead? How do we help them find the inner motivation and engagement to learn what is important?
Values and Character
Inspired by Wayne Dyer’s book, What Do You Want For Your Children?, I’ve asked thousands of parents for over thirty years, “What are the important things for our children to learn?”
Their answers?
I want my children…
- To have the ability to enjoy life;
- To value themselves;
- To be risk takers;
- To be self-reliant;
- To be free from stress and anxiety;
- To have peaceful lives;
- To celebrate their present moments;
- To experience a lifetime of wellness;
- To be creative;
- To be kind and compassionate:
- To fulfill their higher needs and to feel a sense of purpose.
Parents continue to focus on raising capable, responsible, and respectful human beings that understand a work ethic and the power of perseverance.
What keeps me up at night–
Are we teaching what’s important?
- As parents, teachers, grandparents and more—are we modeling how to be a thriving and confident person?
- Do we have a healthy relationship with our technology use, or are we addicted to our phones?
- Safety first is how we all learn the best. How do we create safe places for our children to learn and live?
- How can we teach our children to think in tried-and-true ways to help them navigate the pace of the future?
- Are we modeling the values and character traits of the adult we desire our children to become?
These are big issues.
As with all people who live in difficult times and situations, we have the ability to solve the problem.
- First, we admit there is a problem, and define the problem.
- Second, we commit to finding a solution.
- Third, we implement a solution.
- Fourth, we make sure it is working. If not…
- Fifth, we go back to step one and redefine the problem.
I invite you to talk to your friends and neighbors, figure out what’s important, and let’s start working on teaching what’s important.
We’ll all sleep better.
I invite you to join me for a workshop…
