Eating Marshmallows Doesn’t Predict Future Success
Many of you may be familiar with the famous “marshmallow” experiments conducted by the psychologist Walter Mischel in 1960s and ’70s. In the studies, 4-year-old children have two marshmallows (or another treat) placed in front of them and told that they can either eat one right away or wait to eat two when the researcher […]
Read MoreAmerican Parents Can Learn from Their International Counterparts
I just read an very interesting and thought-provoking article about the differences in child rearing around the world. The recommendations are very consistent with my own views on raising children.
Read More5 “Dangerous” Things Parents Should Do to Their Children
I thoroughly enjoyed Gever Tully’s TED video of “5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do” and agree with his thesis that parents these days are far too protective of their children. Paradoxically, in parents’ well-intentioned attempts at protecting their children from harm, they actually leave them less prepared for the real dangers that your kids will face later in life. I also concur that exposing kids to a little danger can be beneficial to their development. Exposure to what are for them risky experiences, such as using power tools, fire, or a pocket knife, can build confidence, resilience, competence, respect, and responsibility, as well as develop cognitive, emotional, and motor skills that will help children as they transition into adulthood. Of course, it’s easy for Mr. Tully to make this argument when he doesn’t have kids; he doesn’t have the hard-wired “protect your children to ensure their survival” instinct kick in at the first sign of danger. Though exposing children to Mr. Tully’s tangible dangers offers many benefits, I would argue that the dangers that he wants you to expose them to are far less threatening than they actually are because the potentially harmful consequences are immediate and will surely be mitigated by a watchful—though hopefully not overly intrusive—parent. In contrast, I would suggest that you can do five things to your children that are far more “dangerous,” yet will have a far greater impact on them as they develop.
Read MoreMikaela Says it Best: In Ski Racing, “Embrace” Adversity
As I noted in an article I wrote last winter, Ski Racing is One Brutal Sport. The fact is that our sport throws so much at racers, it can be a more than a bit overwhelming. Just a few of the challenges that racers must confront include the course itself, terrain, snow conditions, and weather. […]
Read MoreIn Praise of Reading (the Old-fashioned Way)
There was a powerful commentary in The New York Times yesterday about the importance of reading books in this fast-paced, digital world we are immersed in. A worthwhile and cautionary read for anyone who has become “addicted” to the Internet.
Read MoreChildren Gain Competence by Doing
Competence is an essential quality that children need to develop to become fully functioning adults. In fact, one thing that separates adults from children is the former’s broad repertoire of capabilities that enable them to navigate the world including physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and practical skills. But competencies are necessary, but not sufficient to become […]
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