An Ignoble Experiment: [Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

2011/11/09

[Parent Hacks] 2 new posts in Parent Hacks

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Your learning memories: arrows pointing to your kid's education

Parenting is an exercise in seeing the forest for the trees. So often we're caught up in millions of daily decisions, small and large, that we forget to step back and adjust course, aiming for our ultimate hopes and dreams for our children.

Take education. We focus on kids' daily practice of school -- getting there on time, getting the lunches made, getting the homework done, getting along with classmates and teachers, and (for some) getting the grades. It's a lot to handle, too much some weeks. And these details are important.

Problem is the details can keep us (and our kids) busy enough that we take our eyes off the prize: learning. Loving to learn. Learning to learn.

I'm not saying that the work-, schedule- and social requirements of school necessarily take away from learning. Just that it's important to check in and notice what about your kid's education is exciting him. What's interesting? What makes him want to find out more?

Reading your learning memories reminded me of that. I asked folks to share their favorite learning memories to enter the GeekDad Book for Aspiring Mad Scientists giveaway, and there was such excitement and curiosity in those stories! All different, but each one full of energy. Amazing to read those comments. Thank you to all who shared them.

It's worth thinking about what your kid would say if she were to share her favorite learning experience so far.

Better yet, ask. Then make a concrete plan to include a similar experience in the next month.

More: Review: Mind In The Making

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Social media may save your life

If you follow my Twitter or Facebook streams, you know that Amit Gupta, founder of Photojojo, Jelly, and many other cool things, has leukemia.

I wrote my latest Babble Voices post so that those of you who don't use social networking services could learn about Amit and what you can do to help him and thousands more. It's easy, painless, and free. And it might save a life.

Read the full post: Social media may save your life

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