Actionable Advice to Help Kids Thrive

Stress

How to Use Rituals in Stressful Situations

Character Lab on April 8, 2024

Rituals decrease people’s negative responses to their own slip-ups—suggesting that rituals help us move past our inevitable mistakes whenever we perform.

Rituals decrease people’s negative responses to their own slip-ups—suggesting that rituals help us move past our inevitable mistakes whenever we perform.

Resilience

How to Help Children and Teens Navigate Adversity

Character Lab on April 1, 2024

When you fail, you should examine what you did (or didn’t do) that led to the failure. When you succeed, celebrate together and evaluate what led to the positive outcome.

When you fail, you should examine what you did (or didn’t do) that led to the failure. When you succeed, celebrate together and evaluate what led to the positive outcome.

Anxiety

A New Approach to Quieting Anxious Thoughts

Character Lab on March 25, 2024

Trying to ignore your worries makes them stronger. It’s more helpful to redirect your attention to the present.

Trying to ignore your worries makes them stronger. It’s more helpful to redirect your attention to the present.

Education

The Less You Know: How Struggling Can Help You Learn

Character Lab on March 19, 2024

Learning cultures don’t just change students in the moment—they change them in the long run.

Learning cultures don’t just change students in the moment—they change them in the long run.

Parenting

Ask Leading Questions When You Are Stuck

Character Lab on March 12, 2024

If the young people in your life seem stuck, help them pay attention to how they feel.

If the young people in your life seem stuck, help them pay attention to how they feel.

Parenting

Joy Division: The Benefits of Breaking Up Fun

Character Lab on March 4, 2024

What's thrilling on Monday becomes boring by Friday. Even exciting events lose their sparkle after a while. But there is a way to make the good stuff “resparkle.”

What's thrilling on Monday becomes boring by Friday. Even exciting events lose their sparkle after a while. But there is a way to make the good stuff “resparkle.”

Education

How Teachers Should Walk the Talk

Character Lab on February 26, 2024

Classroom policies that reward improvement encourage students to take on more challenging coursework.

Classroom policies that reward improvement encourage students to take on more challenging coursework.

Growth Mindset

Opportunities Are More Than Luck

Character Lab on February 19, 2024

Those with a growth mindset about opportunity made active plans and persisted toward goals. Mindsets matter most when opportunities seem scarce.

Those with a growth mindset about opportunity made active plans and persisted toward goals. Mindsets matter most when opportunities seem scarce.

Education

The Importance of Critical Support for Students

Character Lab on February 11, 2024

Everyone likes encouragement, but don't confuse warmth with a growth mindset. The key to more effective feedback is allowing students to fix their work themselves.

Everyone likes encouragement, but don't confuse warmth with a growth mindset. The key to more effective feedback is allowing students to fix their work themselves.

Coaching

Room to Improve: A Better Way to Seek Guidance

Character Lab on January 30, 2024

Feedback tends to focus on how well you did last time. Advice shifts attention to how you can do better next time.

Feedback tends to focus on how well you did last time. Advice shifts attention to how you can do better next time.

Bias

What We Can Learn From Hindsight Bias

Character Lab on January 22, 2024

Don’t judge well-intentioned actions too harshly. What may be clear to you now was not nearly so clear at the time the decision was made.

Don’t judge well-intentioned actions too harshly. What may be clear to you now was not nearly so clear at the time the decision was made.

Education

How to Help Young People Develop Better Judgment

Character Lab on January 15, 2024

When making judgments, we tend to overweight information that confirms our beliefs. If judgment is a skill, then learning how to do it better is good for people and the world.

When making judgments, we tend to overweight information that confirms our beliefs. If judgment is a skill, then learning how to do it better is good for people and the world.

Awe

Small Wonders: Finding Everyday Moments of Awe

Character Lab on December 20, 2023

Research has revealed a range of benefits for those who regularly experience awe, including young people. A daily walk may be all it takes.

Research has revealed a range of benefits for those who regularly experience awe, including young people. A daily walk may be all it takes.

Motivation

What Purpose Really Means, and How to Find It

Character Lab on December 11, 2023

Finding your purpose can help you think beyond the self and connect to the larger world.

Finding your purpose can help you think beyond the self and connect to the larger world.

Adolescence

Invest in Connection With Your Teen

Character Lab on November 27, 2023

Beneath all the bravado, your teen really does need you. Don't believe your adolescent wants to be left alone all the time. Let your teen know you want to stay connected.

Beneath all the bravado, your teen really does need you. Don't believe your adolescent wants to be left alone all the time. Let your teen know you want to stay connected.

Education

There's No Such Thing as a Fast Learner

Character Lab on November 20, 2023

Research suggests that achievement gaps are the result of opportunity gaps, not individual differences in learning speed.

Research suggests that achievement gaps are the result of opportunity gaps, not individual differences in learning speed.

Motivation

How to Help Kids Experience Flow

Character Lab on November 13, 2023

When young people feel like they have some control over the situation through their actions, that will lead to a greater feeling of flow.

When young people feel like they have some control over the situation through their actions, that will lead to a greater feeling of flow.

Parenting

The Fewer Requests the Better

Character Lab on November 1, 2023

Asking people to do a lot of tasks can result in them doing fewer in total. Being selective in what you ask for can accomplish more in the long run.

Asking people to do a lot of tasks can result in them doing fewer in total. Being selective in what you ask for can accomplish more in the long run.

Education

Nothing to Hide

Character Lab on October 16, 2023

If students don’t feel comfortable voicing their questions in school, they will miss opportunities to learn from others—the very opportunities that can make them brilliant.

If students don’t feel comfortable voicing their questions in school, they will miss opportunities to learn from others—the very opportunities that can make them brilliant.

HEXACO

Confidently Humble: The Right Way to Think About Being Wrong

Character Lab on October 11, 2023

Are you willing to recognize that you don’t know everything?

Are you willing to recognize that you don’t know everything?