Empower Kids by Giving Them ‘Keys to Peace’

Well-Meaning Parents Often Fail to Teach Vital Values, Author Says

by Rachel Albert

Parents and educators are always trying to spark student participation whether it’s in the classroom, in the local community, or throughout the world.

When middle-school students at Allison Academy in North Miami Beach were asked what they could do to improve their country, they focused on what they understood – bullying, violence and racism.

Those problems are all rooted in the same issues, says Rachel Albert, author of Quest to Telos, a young adult novel where fantasy meets reality and even world peace is possible.

“They stem from a lack of personal integrity and absence of social responsibility,” she says.

“Children who choose to put those values into practice are actively working toward peace. But they can only put into practice what they’ve learned; instilling those values may seem simple, but many parents miss the mark and actually model the opposite.”

Setting Expectations for our Kids even When they’re Hurting

Sad Child and Mom

Ask Amy: When We Hurt for Our Kids

 

by Amy Egan

It may be impossible not to hurt when our kids are hurting, but maybe just being aware when we experience it would be helpful.  There is almost nothing more painful than watching our kids hurt: most of the time we’d rather do their suffering for them.  I am sure it is the “Mama Bear instinct” that takes hold of us when we see our kids in any kind of pain – whether it is physical or emotional, and whether they are the cause of their pain or not at fault.

There are situations when their pain needs to be our business – and there are also plenty of situations where their concerns need to be their own.  The focus of this article is not about whether to step in: it is about bringing to light the serious ramifications we can create simply by approaching the child’s concerns with our own perspectives.