Another school year has begun, and many parents are already wondering what they should be doing to make sure their children are poised to have a fantastic school year. If you are one of those anxious parents who desperately want the best for their children, this post will be of particular interest to you. As a father who has been where you are, ... [Continue Reading]
“Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!”
“Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!” If you grew up in the mid to late sixties or if you are a fan of “classic” TV, you are no doubt familiar with those four words from Lost in Space. “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!” are words the Robot spoke every time it realized the Robinson family especially the youngest son, Will, was in danger. The Robot ... [Continue Reading]
Hot Air Balloon – A Metaphor For Life
Most of you are unaware of this. Scratch that… None of you know what I’m about to tell you. This year, I’ve resolved to take a Hot Air Balloon ride. I’m not exactly sure when I first recognized that I wanted to go all Fifth Dimension but I must tell you that going up, up, and away is a priority for me. In fact, sailing along in a Hot Air ... [Continue Reading]
The Secret to Raising a Harvard Kid
Every parent wants the best education for their children, and what could be better than Harvard? Or Yale...or any other top-tier school . . But what can you do to send your son or daughter off in the right direction? I want to share with you the single greatest gift my parents gave me that led me to attend Harvard and MIT (with acceptances from ... [Continue Reading]
Insights on Restorative Practices After Visiting Bethlehem
Not long ago, I made the trek to Bethlehem. No, I didn’t go the Holy Land, Bethlehem in Judea. I went to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Traveling with Dr. Z, I was able to pull off something that Joseph and Mary were unable to do. I was able to find room at the inn. And although, there was no room for me at The Historic Hotel Bethlehem, the good folks ... [Continue Reading]
FACE IT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE AVERAGE
The other afternoon, I had the good fortune of chatting with a friend whom I have known for more than thirty years. During our discussion, he was lamenting his dissatisfaction with parents. Specifically, he was irritated by the number of parents who have children who merely strive to be average. My response to his parental annoyance – which you ... [Continue Reading]
Things I Think About Parents But Rarely Say Out Loud
A week or so I was interviewed by George Kilpatrick of New Inspiration for the Nation. During the interview, Mr. Kilpatrick asked me a question that I had never been asked. George asked, “Is this a hobby for you or is this a lifestyle?” My response which surprised even me was that writing, speaking and advocating for children is a revolutionary ... [Continue Reading]
The iPhone And The Case For Experiential Learning
A little over eight years ago, my then eleven year old son asked for an iPhone. Today, this might seem an ordinary request for one so young but eight years ago, I thought his request was outrageous. In 2007, owning an iPhone was a luxury item even for adults. For that matter, owning an iPhone was a luxury item even for working adults. Yet, somehow ... [Continue Reading]
Why It Might Be Okay To Take A Gap Year
As the end of another school year approaches, all over the country parents and graduating high school seniors are having discussions from calm to passionate about what comes next. Some students know exactly what they want to do next while others are not so sure. This dilemma is not exclusive to those students whose high school transcripts and ... [Continue Reading]
How Would You Define Great Schools?
The last several days have been incredibly enlightening. In consecutive days, I had the opportunity to take a bus tour of the “great” schools of Indianapolis and listen to a panel of experts discuss preschool education. While in all but a couple of cases, I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of the efforts of those who spoke about educating our ... [Continue Reading]