Thank you, Chris, for starting this space and sharing! You always bring fantastic examples to light - and this topic is timely as I've been thinking a LOT about this recently. My kids now attend public schools in Switzerland, where the community encourages 5-year-olds to walk to kindergarten on their own. And that's just the beginning of the trust and responsibility they build and support through the years, so I'm constantly indulging in community spot analysis here. It's a better story, yet...
We all are immersed in WEIRD culture and a fear-driven media cycle, which brings many unconscious biases to modern parenting. I would enjoy unpacking more of those biases. I'm in the middle of reading Michaeleen Doucleff's Hunt, Gather, Parent - which looks to indigenous cultures for parenting models. I have been struck by how much adolescence may be shaped by our unconscious modern assumptions in the early years.
Thank you Chris - i'm very happy to be on your distribution list! The Japanese and German examples are phenomenal and I would love to find some opportunities closer to home - both to challenge my son but also to challenge my own assumptions and boundaries! Keep 'em coming!
Great article, Chris! I have always appreciated your willingness and desire to shine a light on kids at their best, even (or especially!) when most people would overlook these amazing years
A few years ago, I took an excellent course on how biases influence decision making in the business setting. It changed how I thought and made decisions at work in a major way. But only now with your newsletter did I realize how two of those classic biases might be influencing my thinking about "kids" and parenting! I was very wow'd by the two examples from Japan & Germany! Thank you Chris for this much-needed reminder/refresher!
Thanks, Behn! At Millennium I recall a parent once shared something called the Codex of Cognitive Biases, which helped me so much in a similar way to your story...
Wonderful insights Chris, thank you. Reminds me of a quote about habits, "We don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our habits." In the case of your article, "adolescents don't rise to the level of our control, they fall to the level of our trust." Keep the brilliance coming my friend!
Thank you for this provocative and thoughtful post, Chris. Always helpful to be inspired and reminded of the capacity of our youth. There are many great examples from Millennium School and beyond (and even from our own home!).
Thanks, Phil! Ah, it would be so helpful to have ways to share these great examples around, with at least as much frequency as we share the stories of difficulty. Would love to hear more of yours sometime!
Loved this! Great stories and an action item.
Thanks, Paige!
Heartening tales from the forgotten mini generation.
Thank you, Chris, for starting this space and sharing! You always bring fantastic examples to light - and this topic is timely as I've been thinking a LOT about this recently. My kids now attend public schools in Switzerland, where the community encourages 5-year-olds to walk to kindergarten on their own. And that's just the beginning of the trust and responsibility they build and support through the years, so I'm constantly indulging in community spot analysis here. It's a better story, yet...
We all are immersed in WEIRD culture and a fear-driven media cycle, which brings many unconscious biases to modern parenting. I would enjoy unpacking more of those biases. I'm in the middle of reading Michaeleen Doucleff's Hunt, Gather, Parent - which looks to indigenous cultures for parenting models. I have been struck by how much adolescence may be shaped by our unconscious modern assumptions in the early years.
I look forward to more insights and exchange!
Thanks, Liz! So curious to hear more of what you're noticing as an expat...and that book is on my list, will check it out!
Thank you Chris - i'm very happy to be on your distribution list! The Japanese and German examples are phenomenal and I would love to find some opportunities closer to home - both to challenge my son but also to challenge my own assumptions and boundaries! Keep 'em coming!
Yes, this calls for another post! So many inspiring examples in the US as well. Coming soon ...
Great article, Chris! I have always appreciated your willingness and desire to shine a light on kids at their best, even (or especially!) when most people would overlook these amazing years
Thanks, Gabi! I really see middle schoolers as the ultimate underdogs...
A few years ago, I took an excellent course on how biases influence decision making in the business setting. It changed how I thought and made decisions at work in a major way. But only now with your newsletter did I realize how two of those classic biases might be influencing my thinking about "kids" and parenting! I was very wow'd by the two examples from Japan & Germany! Thank you Chris for this much-needed reminder/refresher!
Thanks, Behn! At Millennium I recall a parent once shared something called the Codex of Cognitive Biases, which helped me so much in a similar way to your story...
Wonderful insights Chris, thank you. Reminds me of a quote about habits, "We don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our habits." In the case of your article, "adolescents don't rise to the level of our control, they fall to the level of our trust." Keep the brilliance coming my friend!
Ah that's one of my favorite quotes! Love how you applied that to control and trust...
Thank you for this provocative and thoughtful post, Chris. Always helpful to be inspired and reminded of the capacity of our youth. There are many great examples from Millennium School and beyond (and even from our own home!).
Thanks, Phil! Ah, it would be so helpful to have ways to share these great examples around, with at least as much frequency as we share the stories of difficulty. Would love to hear more of yours sometime!