A group of parents were once asked, “If you could wish one thing for your child when they leave school, what would it be?” Their answers showed a remarkable degree of consensus - most parents wished that they could grant their children 'happiness'. I’m sure this is a wish we...
It’s not hard to find distressing news. From the horrors of war to stories of greed and corruption, there’s plenty to be distressed about! This week I’ve also read disturbing news of increased instances of racially, sexually and ethnically discriminatory language and behaviour on school and college campuses around the...
A few weeks ago, members of the Woodstock Class of 1981 returned to campus for their 35th reunion. During their visit, the class had a discussion with our 12th Graders. The students' questions (and the answers from the Class of ’81) ranged from the amusing to the profound. One question...
“Oh look – she has her father’s nose!” I love listening to the comments people make when they see a new born baby for the first time. Perhaps you can remember some of the comments people made when you children were tiny. As humans we love to look for clues...
Reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic used to be referred to as the 'three R’s' and they were seen as the fundamentals of a good education. But we know it takes more than reading, writing and mathematics to raise a balanced child fully equipped for life in the twenty-first century. Nowadays, even if we...
I recently read an interesting article in the science news. Dr. Olaf Kruse, a biologist at Bielefeld University in Germany published research showing that plants can use other plants as a source of energy in addition to the well-known process of photosynthesis. We all know that plants need water and...
Two weeks ago, I came across a fascinating concept I hadn’t heard of before. I discovered it through an article kindly sent to me by a Woodstock parent. The article was a summary of Dr Susan David’s new book, 'Emotional Agility'. This concept of emotional agility has helped me to...
Several times recently different people have forwarded me the following TED Talk by Julie Lythcott-Haims - academic, author and the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford: [embed width="600" height="480"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nd2ORQOSfw[/embed] It’s a great talk – and I recommend it. Her latest book, “How to Raise an Adult”. Lythcott-Haines makes a powerful case against parents...
Fascinating research published by the American Medical Association reports the results of a survey on over 90,000 teenagers – one of the largest ever carried out. The research concluded that ‘emotional connectedness’ was the single most significant factor in protecting young people from emotional distress, violent behaviour, substance abuse and...
Muscle memory Going to the gym everyday has been a ritual of mine for more than 30 years. 25 years ago, when one of our daughters was still very young, I set up a small gym in the basement of our house. Every evening I’d make my way down the stairs to...
