Conversations

Get access to our latest news by signing up for our newsletter.

Learning

Sesame Street benefits kids as much as preschool, study finds

According to the findings of a recent academic study (though of little surprise to anyone who has ever watched), the benefits of Sesame Street are as powerful as the ones kids get from attending pr...

Wellbeing mom playing with four kids outside her house kids have costumes on

How Becoming a Parent Made Me “Better” – In Totally Unexpected Ways

More accepting, more generous, more helpful. To some degree, becoming a mom has had these sorts of effects on me—I think—but it’s also changed me in other ways that I appreciate even more.

37 Difficult Questions From My Mixed-Race Son

Mira Jacob, author of "The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing", has a son who loves Michael Jackson. She turned his perceptive questions and observations regarding race into a fantastic series of panel...

Parenthood women showing child how to bake

Getting the Kids Involved Means Letting them Participate 

If you want your kids to follow a daily routine, they have to help create it, and then feel supported as they practice mastering the routine on their own. That sounds super obvious to most parents...

This 75-Year study proves that the only thing that matters in life is relationships.

The only thing that matters in life is relationships. "Happiness is only the cart; love is the horse." Source: The 75-Year Study That Found The Secrets To A Fulfilling Life

Parenthood little logos of phones bed tissue box cookies ties

10 Lifehacks to Become a Better Parent than Anyone Else, Ever

I've learned a number of time-saving, life-affirming, world-changing tips that will both save time and affirm life while simultaneously changing the world.

Parenthood tired mother with her child

Parenting, Not for the Moment, But for the Long Haul

Our culture is one that promises quick fixes, from 6-minute abs (or is it 8 minutes? I don't know. I wait for cold season and hope I get a cough strong and persistent enough to get mine back on tra...

Wellbeing old looking car with cover on it in very bad shape

Confession: my car is a dumpster on wheels. And I’m ready to be ok with that.

The wayback, as we refer to it, is an ever-changing cornucopia of cast offs. It’s like a 7 layer dip of things that left the house with intention and have fallen into some sort of trunk purgatory.

Wellbeing cartoon picture with yellow background of bug

Is bug repellent safe for kids? Plus, suggestions for what works.

Like many parents, I've never been convinced that chemical insect repellents are truly safe to use on my kid. DEET, in particular, creeps me out - once I accidentally sprayed some on a metal door, ...

Wellbeing young girl looking at an ipad and smiling

Talking social media dos and don’ts for grownups and kids with VPR

Today I was a guest on Vermont Edition on VPR, our local NPR affiliate. The topic was “To Post Or Not To Post: Social Media Boundaries.” You can listen to it and read feedback from listeners right...

Rewriting the playbook for learning: Mimi Ito on Minecraft 

Mimi Ito, cultural anthropologist and leading expert on online education explains why Minecraft elevates the conversation on learning through video games. Together these four dimensions of Minecraf...

Inspiration Bobby Hackney Jr. of the punk band Rough Francis

A story of fatherhood, punk rock, and a surprising family legacy

We talk about making music, fatherhood, and a surprising family legacy with Bobby Hackney Jr. of the punk band Rough Francis.

Learning abstract design with a piece from tetris

5 links to share with your curious kids (week of 6/6/15)

Share awesome, fun links with your kids curated by Today Box. Today Box curates fun and educational facts, videos, photos and jokes for curious kids, parents and educators. View past Internet Field...

Learning turquoise background letter with lines going through it

Top 5 links for parents 5/29-6/5

A handful of things you may have missed this week.

Parenthood abstract blue sky with clouds

3 women share how their creative work evolved with motherhood

We profiled three mothers who are making amazing art for the #100DayProject about how parenthood has changed their relationship to creativity.

Sheryl Sandberg's touching letter on grief and choosing to "kick the shit out of option B"

Last month, Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and one half of Silicon Valley's ultimate power couple, unexpectedly lost her husband Dave Goldberg. While on vacation, the CEO of SurveyMonkey collapse...

Parenthood two boys with glasses one with hat one with out

Be nice to your brother*: the fine print

I understand that rules are most effective when they’re objective and specific. Being nice to your brother does not include (but is not limited to not including) the following**:

Pregnancy baby winking at camera

Why I Recommend Doulas to All of My Friends

A doula's job is thought to be coaching laboring mothers, but I was most thankful for the way she prepared us for what would actually happen.

Parenthood walking man with beard made of legos in fantasy world

What parents need to know about the new LEGO Worlds game

Here's what parents need to know about the new game LEGO Worlds. After all, it's only a matter of time before it's all your kid can talk about.

Only children aren’t less socially able

It’s often thought that only children aren’t socially able. But the research doesn’t support this notion. Full-disclosure: I'm raising an only child. But here are some ways to help only children b...

Inspiration kids and adults following a band outside with a guitar and drums

Musician, farmer, and father Chris Dorman: listening first, then taking the leap

Photo credit for above photo for musician parade: John Snyder, Farmington Hills, MI Chris Dorman is a musician, farmer and educator based Shelburne, Vermont. He helped found Bread and Butter Farm ...

Wellbeing music cover for father's day with family by a tree cartoon style

Chris Dorman & Friends - Live Streaming Father's Day Performance

Tune in for an incredible, free streaming performance of the new album "Always There" from Chris Dorman and Friends this Father's Day!

Modern Career Advice for Kids

School is too focused on “education leads to a job.” This is not true anymore. The reality is the average person has 14 different careers in their lives and the average multi-millionaire has seven ...

An instagram famous travel photographer on how to take epic photos

If you've ever spent a few minutes on instagram, you know that not all phone photographers are created equal. Though considering the level playing field when it comes to hardware and software, the ...