From guest contributor Dr. Michele Borba Kindness is often considered as a soft and fuzzy skill, but science shows surprising benefits to being nice, including boosting health, reducing anxiety, enhancing self-esteem, increasing gratitude, and even elevating happiness. In fact, study
A Family Compact for Excellence
Whether working with professional colleagues on a work project, teammates on an athletic team, or classmates in school it is important to establish expectations for how the group is going to do its best work and what each person will
Seven Practices That Nurture Respect in Children
From guest contributor Dr. Michele Borba Though most teachers admit that there are some students they never forget, the same is true about parents. I vividly remember a mother of one of my students all because of the way she
Making Good Decisions in Tough Times
We all make countless decisions every day. Should you wear a face mask while out in public? Attend a social justice protest? Confront someone you disagree with? Some of these decisions have relatively minor consequences (good or bad), while other
Communicating with Empathy
The horrific and wrongful death of George Floyd has brought the reality of racial injustice to the forefront of American mind’s and dialogue, leaving many to feel unsure how to enter these necessary and important conversations that can positively impact the situation.
Character During Crisis
We are living through challenging and turbulent times. Americans are facing an international health pandemic, financial uncertainty, racial tensions, and civil unrest. It can be easy to feel helpless – wondering what possible impact someone like me can have on such great problems?
How Not to Raise a Quitter
Teach your children to hang in there when the going gets tough, but know when to let them throw in the towel.
Recognizing Good Stress
Recognize what is good stress in your life. What challenge are you currently facing that is making you better (whether you like it or not)?
Seven Ways to Nurture Tolerance and Acceptance in Kids
One thing is certain, kids aren’t born hateful. Prejudices are learned. Hatred and intolerance can also be learned, but so too can sensitivity, understanding, empathy, and tolerance. If today’s children are to have any chance of living harmoniously in our multiethnic world, it is critical that parents nurture it.
Sports During COVID-19
COVID-19 has disrupted our lives in countless ways, not the least of which was moving all Iowa schools to online delivery for the rest of the spring semester, and the cancellation of all high school spring sports.