One Counterintuitive Secret to Use with Your Kids
When I was young, my dad worked hard at his job and often was busy away from home doing that job; earning a living and providing for his family. My parents had a good marriage and both found a way to divide the family responsibilities between mom, dad and their three children. I distinctly remember something my dad did that I
The Latest Research on the Mental Effects of Social Media Usage
I have a deal to make with you. If you’ll read the research below on what screen time is doing to teenagers in America, and you feel it might be helpful for your young people to know about this research—print this article, grab a latte together and talk it over with them. My track record doing this with adolescents shows
Seven Steps to Help Students Create Margin and Reduce Stress
Gary Davison, Principal of Lambert High School, noticed the rise in stress and anxiety levels in his students and decided to think outside of the box. When he asked students why they were so “stressed out,” many said it was because they had demands on both ends of their school day. They need as much sleep as possible in the
Survey Results: Today’s Students Are Skipping College
I’ll never forget reading the statistic, "90 percent of millennials who graduate from high school attend college within eight years." That was the highest number on record and would have tilted the workforce in both positive and negative ways. (Very good to have so many college-educated professionals. Not so good when many job openings don’t require a bachelor’s degree). Of course,
Two Critical Mistakes Parents Make When It Comes to Responsibility
This month, American parents received two life-lessons about mishandling money with their young adult children. The research on what’s trending has become clear. Let me cut straight to the point. 1. Parents Take Responsibility Too Often When We Should Let It Go The results of a nationwide survey were recently released: “Parents help their kids in a variety of ways, and that
Five Ways to Develop Empathy in Generation Z
In May 2007, an Iraqi artist named Wafaa Bilal decided to move into a gallery space in Chicago. He planned to do a 30-day experiment on “empathy” in light of what had happened to his brother In Iraq. His brother had been killed by an airstrike from a drone that was shot by a soldier far away. Wafaa was shocked
When to Rescue and When to Risk with Students
I know a young adult male—we’ll call him Sam—who manages depression and has anxiety attacks from time to time. As a young professional he’s attempting to cope with his reality, but over the last two years, he’s resorted to smoking pot, consuming too much alcohol and vaping. He’s gotten high and he’s gotten drunk and yet he knows that these
Becoming a “Free Range Leader” for Generation Z
Over the last 18 months, I’ve been collecting stories from “heroes” in the world of student work, athletics and education. These are people who stand out among their peers; they make moves that not only engage Generation Z students but equip them with skills they will need as they graduate into a very different world than the one I entered
Three Ways to Evaluate Students Without Using Grades
Jillian is a rising junior who is obsessed with her academic scores. When I spoke to her, she admits to losing sleep over them, being preoccupied with keeping up with fellow students and even enduring an anxiety disorder because of them. Even though Jillian wants good grades, they hold her hostage each year. The fact is—most students I meet fall into a
Four Timeless Tools to Connect with Generation Z
I continue to hear from teachers nationwide that genuine conversations are becoming more difficult in their classrooms. Students seem more comfortable interacting on portable devices than they are face-to-face. The screens in our lives are negatively influencing our social interactions. In addition to technology, new research demonstrates that other factors are playing a role in influencing student discussion, student engagement, and
Three Common Missteps Leaders Must Avoid
I read two articles recently that caught my attention. They did so because each published a report illustrating a moral failure that 21st-century leaders commit far too often. In fact, we hear stories like this every year. I believe our problem is—we value production over principles. Ford Knew Their Cars Were Defective “Ford Motor Company knowingly launched two low-priced, fuel-efficient cars with defective
10 Steps to Help Recent College Graduates with Interviews
Picture this scenario: Your young graduate sends out her resume to several potential employers hoping for a great job to open up. Lo and behold, three job offers end up coming her way. But which should she choose? Such a decision seems more stressful than it was in past generations. More and more young professionals (or students) feel ill-equipped to handle turning
What We Can Learn from the Perry Preschool Project
Recently, I wrote about James Heckman who evaluated the GED Program results after five decades and recorded his findings. Heckman is an economist and a 2000 Nobel Peace Prize Winner from the University of Chicago. He noticed that even young adults who earned their GED (General Education Development) were quitting or underperforming later in life, in careers, health, marriage and