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If you are in the field of Education, there’s no doubt you have heard the term Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). As a social scientist who has always been fascinated with people, cultures and emotions; the fact that this topic is trending in education excites me! But I also find myself imagining what my grandpa might have said if I tried to explain the importance of SEL to him. It would probably be something like, “Why do kids need to learn all that touchy feely stuff in school, w …

When children are young, we teach by showing. We show them what money looks like when we count it. We take more abstract concepts, like addition and subtraction, and physically show them how it looks to add one apple to a group of three or subtract two blocks from a group of five. Basic counting eventually turns into algebra, trigonometry, or calculus. So, too, goes the teaching of social skills or positive character traits like being kind to others. We start simply by showing them, a …

The feeling of accomplishment is something most people cherish. You did it! You got all the laundry put away! You organized your office! You worked out! You slept eight hours last night! You feel great! And, then, somehow it fades away. You have more laundry to wash and put away. Your office looks cluttered and you can’t find that paper you need. You’ve gone days in a row without exercising. You stayed up too late last night and you’re tired. What happened? Why didn’t the feeling of accomplis …

Certain social situations can be tricky. Working collaboratively with people who don't share the same opinion as you, telling the truth in a kind way, calming down in the face of frustration, and meeting new people are all scenarios that can challenge even the most socially adept adults. For kids, experiencing social situations like these for the first time can range anywhere from intimidating to impossible.The Boys Town Press titles for Spring 2020 are designed to tackle a number of these stick …

As the holidays approach, people often take a moment to reflect on the year and give thanks for the blessings they have received. Whether it’s going around the Thanksgiving table to say one thing you are thankful for or assisting your kids with a gratitude-themed assignment, gratitude seems to be on everyone’s brain. But gratitude can be more than just an exercise during the holiday season. Many people believe cultivating an attitude of gratitude is a valuable life skill that can hel …

When Father Edward Flanagan started Boys Town, his mission was to give boys a safe place to call home while giving them the skills needed to become productive citizens. A major part of accomplishing this goal was teaching and modeling the character traits the boys in his care would need to be accepted by society and become productive members of the work force.These same character traits supported by social skills, are still a central tenant of the Boys Town Model®. Like any academic knowled …

Bullying has become an epidemic in communities, homes, online and our schools. For example, bullyingstatistics.org cites the following data: Bullying victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University A study in Britain found that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying According to statistics reported by ABC News, nearly 30 percent of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and …

A few weeks ago, I walked all three of my sons down to the end of the block and watched as the oldest two, ages seven and five, climbed onto a yellow school bus. The five-year-old, who started Kindergarten this year, sat by the window, waving and blowing kisses. My oldest, who is now a second grader, settled in next to him, gave us a brief head nod, and turned to talk to his friends. We waited until the bus disappeared around the corner, then my two-year-old and I walked back up the sidewa …

Whether you’re a parent of an athlete, mathlete, actor, dancer, musician, or child who focuses their energies another way, most parents agree, the successes of your children are prideful moments. And when your child faces disappointment, there’s nothing harder.Tryouts mean long days and nights; exhausted, cranky kids; hopes, triumphs and frustrations. And if your child is trying out for more than one team (club, part, or troupe), you figure out the fastest, safest routes between fields or …

We all want our children to be happy. And let’s face it, shouldn’t they be? After all, children don’t have jobs or bills to pay. We adults often wish we could go back to being a kid and not have to deal with all the stress being an adult brings. Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.But if you stop and think about it for a minute, isn’t it the same, on some level, for children? We all experience different levels of stress. No, they may not have a paying job, but they do have responsibilities …