Raising kind and caring kids

Whether they’re in the classroom or on the field, kids are under immense pressure from parents, teachers, coaches, and caregivers to achieve. But are we doing our kids a disservice when we focus too much on our kids’ achievements instead of moral values like kindness, caring, and empathy? Rick Weissbourd is a psychologist, author, and senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He also co-directs Harvard’s Making Caring Common Project, which arms parents and schools with information and tools to help them prioritize moral and social values in childrens’ lives. Rick discusses the relationship between moral and social character and achievement in children. He also shares advice on how to raise kind, caring, grateful children and why this should be every parent’s goal. Listen to this episode to learn: -Is there a gap between parents’ perceptions and children’s reality about the value of caring, kindness, and empathy? -Actions parents can take to strengthen their kids’ concern for others and the common good -Why schools, colleges, and universities all have a critical role to play in building the moral and social character of young people -The positive effects experienced into adulthood when children are taught kindness and empathy at a young age -Advice for parents on how to deal with bullies and overly-competitive sports parents