Over the past few months, theatre camps all over the country have had thousands of kids come through their doors to rehearse and perform a summer musical. They arrive day one with no knowledge of the script or characters, and, two or three weeks later, they are in costume under stage lights singing and dancing their hearts out. 

Years ago, when I used to direct these shows, I would look at the kids on their first day, their eager eyes looking up at me, and tell them, “You are about to embark on an adventure that most adults would NEVER EVER be able to do. In fact, if I were to tell a group of adults that, in 11 days, they would be presenting an entire musical fully memorized and fully choreographed, they would run out of the room screaming. But you guys, you can do it! You have the power to see that it is possible…possible with the power of teamwork.” 

And then they do it. They rehearse the show, memorize their lines, create their characters and, as a group, tell a story. 

I can’t help but think about the skills that we are looking for in our modern workforce. Let’s look at a couple of the big employers in my home of the SF Bay Area:

Google: ”If you’re looking for a place that values your curiosity, passion, and desire to learn, if you’re seeking colleagues who are big thinkers eager to take on fresh challenges as a team, then you’re a future Googler.”

Apple: “This is where some of the world’s most passionate people create the world’s most innovative products and experiences.”

Want to know what the “job description” looks like for the kids in theatre camp? 

“Wanted: An employee with a positive, can-do spirit of optimism. Strong teamwork skills required. Looking for passionate commitment to projects. Job requires creative thinking and attention to detail. Self-starters encouraged to apply. Public speaking and quick learning is a regular part of this position. Excellent communication skills a plus and the ability to think outside the box encouraged.”

Who doesn’t want that employee? 

 

 

This post originally appeared on Piedmont Post.

Nina Meehan is CEO and Founder Bay Area Children's Theatre and the host of the Creative Parenting Podcast. An internationally recognized expert in youth development through the arts, Nina nurtures innovation by fostering creative thinking. She is mom to Toby (13), Robby (10) and Meadow (5).  

   

When James and I were first trying to conceive, I was a bundle of nerves, crying at every turn, especially when getting pregnant didn’t go how I had (meticulously) planned it. We stopped using contraception and proceeded to “try” for the next year. When about 14 months had passed and I still wasn’t pregnant at the time of my next gynecologist appointment, I asked what we should do. She referred us to a few fertility specialists in the area. I was devastated. It wasn’t supposed to be like that. We had been so careful to make sure we didn’t get pregnant before we were ready, I hadn’t considered it might be a challenge once we were ready.

Despite fertility treatments becoming more and more common and hearing extended family members’ stories, I felt ashamed about my inability to conceive.  I had been open with friends about wanting to start a family, but now that we were possibly not going to be able to, I shut down. I stopped talking with my family as often. Whenever friends asked how it was going, I brushed it off with a “hasn’t happened yet…” and changed the subject. It took six months before I was finally ready to pick up the phone and schedule an appointment with the specialist. It was another month before they could fit us in as a new patient.  We were finally ready to take action and we jumped in with some initial testing before two failed rounds of IUI.

Our infertility wasn’t fully explained, but the test results and failed IUIs were enough for our doctor to recommend and our insurance to support moving on to IVF. We were so incredibly lucky. Despite the heartache of the two prior years and the misery of hope, month after month, our first IVF cycle resulted in three healthy embryos. Transferring our first one resulted in implantation, pregnancy, and finally the birth of our daughter. Then, 18 months later, we were ready to do it all over again with a second embryo transfer, in hopes of another child to join our family.

There was such a relief in starting this process a second time since it worked for us the first time. I know there are no guarantees that it will work the second time around or even the third, but since we were able to have Louise, I know it’s possible. I empathize with all families who continue to struggle to conceive. We were lucky our pain of not being able to conceive only lasted a year or two, but the worry that it wouldn’t work the next time still lives on.  Despite that strain, I’m more optimistic than before about our hopes to create the family we want.

Six Months Later

It’s ironic to read back the first half of this post having drafted it months apart. I was full of optimism for our future and a new hope to move on from the struggles of infertility. We underwent a frozen embryo transfer several months ago and the long story short is that it didn’t take. We’re not expecting. After an update consultation with the same doctor who helped us have Louise, we followed a very similar protocol of medication, tests, and timing leading up to the transfer. A week into the 10-day wait to find out if it worked, I turned to James that evening and told him I didn’t think it had worked. Call it women’s intuition; call it a 50-50 guess that turned out to be right, but I just knew it wasn’t happening that time. Unfortunately, that didn’t ease the knot tightening in my stomach when the doctor finally did call to confirm the result.

That night and the days that followed, I cried just as hard as when it didn’t take with the IUIs or naturally. But I didn’t cry as long. I am constantly reminded by Louise’s infectious laughter that it has worked once. We will hopefully be fortunate again. It may work next time. It may not. In accepting the grief that comes from each failed attempt, I’m better able to pick myself up and move forward. I am present with family and friends, pursuing other passions, all while acknowledging the tiny ball of hope in the back of my brain saying it will work again one day.

 

This post originally appeared on Happy Optimizing.

Hi!  I’m Lauren, a recent convert from professional career-woman to stay-at-home mom and wife.

Why waste time on the mundane if it can be done more efficiently and you can get back to the fun parts of life? I hope these posts help you save time and money.

Happy Optimizing! 

Photo: Devin Tomiak

We all want our kids to grow up to become happy adults. But what is happiness? A fulfilling relationship with a partner? A rewarding, high-paying job? Close friends? Good health? A helluva sale on your favorite Trader Joes Pinot?

“Happiness is an achievement,” read the teabag tag on my recent cup of Blackberry Apple Cider Digestive Awakening tea. The idea that happiness doesn’t just happen to people is common sense, of course. Our collective experience shows us that life is a series of struggles, some small and some not so small. Rest assured, a costly ding to your bumper waits just around the next bend. Or news of an irregular Pap smear. Or a poke in the eye.

Happiness is a game of hide and seek—a search for joy underneath the bed and behind closed closet doors. It’s the struggle to overcome addictions. It’s the challenge to make peace with that which you cannot change. It’s figuring out how to appreciate the goodness in your life in spite of the pain. No matter what it is for you, it’s a freaking beast to get there.

So if we all know that happiness is not something that exists in a vacuum without problems, if we all know happiness takes work, why don’t more people put in the effort to achieve it? And that’s not to say everyone I know is miserable, but if happiness comes to us through effort, why not work hard to get more of it? Why be happy only on the weekends? Or only when your team wins the playoffs? Why not be happy most of the time?

As it turns out, the personal qualities that make us “happy” in life, are the same things that make us “resilient.” Gratitude, optimism, self-regulation, empathy, healthy habits like exercise and eating well. The work of happiness is also the work of resilience. And we know resilience is no fun—it means problems. Sure, you’re overcoming those problems, but they’re still problems.

Interestingly enough, research shows that when we’re happy, we become better at working hard at healthy pursuits and creating the mental patterns that make us happy.

Did ya get that?

Put in the effort to get happy and getting happy will make you want to put in the effort.

“When we are in a positive mindset, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient and productive at work,” states a May 2015 Washington Post article, entitled “How to teach our children the art of happiness.”

So what do you teach your kids to prepare them for the happiness slog? What’s the overarching message that is going to make your child want to do the work to be both happy and resilient?

Perhaps it’s simple.

Maybe it’s just TRY. Put in the effort. Work hard.

Work hard at school. Work hard in the professional world. Work hard to resist getting on social media when you’ve already been on it for an hour. Work hard to get your meds right and take them if you need them. Work hard to eat broccoli, when you’d rather feast on Mesquite Barbecue Lays. Work hard to connect with others even if that’s just talking to the sales clerk at the gas station. Heck, work hard to take time off working hard; work hard at self-care and relaxation. And teach your kids it ain’t easy. Don’t expect it to be.

After all, happiness is an achievement. Teabags don’t lie.

This post originally appeared on The Biggies Conversation Cards Blog.

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After losing a brother to suicide, Devin Tomiak was driven to understand youth resiliency. Her personal mission to strengthen her relationship with her children, develop their emotional intelligence, and improve the communication skills of her whole family led her to create The Biggies Conversation Cards for elementary-aged kids.

Photo: Stratford School

As our country reopens and we trickle back into public spaces, many of us are appreciating the pleasure of spending time in our favorite “third places” – the neighborhood parks and cafes, public playgrounds and libraries that have long been part of our social environment. Our public libraries are re-opening, and even with reduced hours and access, their open doors signal the return to normal that we all crave and the optimism we are feeling.

To be sure, public libraries everywhere have sustained their multifaceted mission to promote literacy and access to information and serve as community centers for patrons of all ages. In March 2020, library staff pivoted quickly to online programming that has facilitated remote browsing and borrowing capacities ever since. According to OverDrive, which libraries use to loan out digital material, weekly e-book lending across the United States increased nearly fifty percent in the months following the shuttering of library buildings. Libraries continued to evolve, constantly expanding their repertoire of distance-learning services—from hosting virtual book festivals and outdoor readings to publishing “quaranzines” filled with community news.

But now our public libraries are reopening, and so many of our students have told us how delighted they are to be back in them—back to tactile browsing and face-to-face conversations, back to familiar and cozy corners in the library, to reading contests and free bookmarks that have riddles on them. (Indeed, one of my students mentioned the bookmarks!). Even with gratitude and full appreciation for the uninterrupted library services of the past difficult year, we die-hard library lovers are still SO grateful to be back in the library! If it has been some time since you were in a library, we encourage you to return to this “third place,” preferably for a leisurely visit with your children, during which you and they can savor time spent in the company of others—while satisfying an inquisitive impulse, feeding your mind or spirit.

The selection of books we have curated for summer reading are intentionally different from books children might read during the school year. Some are fanciful or fantasy (dogs that accompany their kid-owners to school, for example), most have pictures (illustrations and infographics, or graphic novels); and most can be read in short bursts, for example in the car or during thirty-minute reading bursts—which work especially well in building capacity in reluctant readers. We hope you will enjoy one or more of these books—or others you find while browsing library stacks or with the help of your local librarian. Have a lovely summer!

Grades Kindergarten to Second

The Rock From The Sky written and illustrated by Jon Klassen
A beautiful work of art with a hilarious story to go with it by Caldecott winner Jon Klassen. Turtle and Armadillo leave one stone unturned when it falls from the sky, right in Turtle’s favorite hangout spot. It’s a good thing he meandered out of the way in time! This inspires simple chats about the ever-changing landscape, including the potential ominous cryptid creatures that might make their way into their environment. It’s not really possible to perfectly sum up a Klassen book- it’s truly something one needs to experience to fully appreciate.

Have you Ever Seen A Flower written by Shawn Harris
Vividly drawn illustrations are the highlight of this absolutely perfect picture book. A young girl and her dog take a journey from the grey, drab city through bright fields of flowers, learning a lot about themselves and the wonder of nature on the way. Opens the way to discussions between parents and children about the importance of wildlife, beauty, flowers, bees and happiness.

Grades 3-4

Scientists Get Dressed written by Deborah Lee Rose
Have you ever wondered what kinds of clothing and personal equipment are needed for a volcanologist or a glaciologist? Eighteen different people are introduced with the gear they need to collect data for their scientific studies and protect themselves, and lots of facts about the things they research. Packed with photographs, the book uses two fonts and types of information, one for younger readers and one with more information for older readers.

Two Dogs in a Trenchcoat (series) written by Julie Falatko
Hilarious stories about dogs that wear clothes so they can attend school with their owners. Dog antics and adventures include starting a school club, going on a class trip, and even participating in a school play.

DK Findout! (series) written by various authors
The tagline for this series of 30 books is, “what do you want to find out?”  Each volume focuses on one topic, including time-tested favorites like understanding the human body, dinosaurs, and Ancient Egypt. The content is conveyed in short paragraphs, captions, fast facts, and brief interviews—both real (with subject experts) and imagined (with a historic figure). Fun to read aloud, this series will have children begging to read.

Grades 5-8

Me and the World: An Infographic Exploration written by Mireia Trius, Illustrated by Joana Casals
This fascinating book pairs visual literacy with data literacy, using colorful illustrations and infographics to present information in a way that’s easy to understand. The infographics focus on personal things like family structure, most popular names, and breakfast foods in different places in our world. It also looks more broadly at things like world population, city populations, traffic in cities, schools and homework. There are more light-hearted infographics including most popular dog breeds, summer vacations, and sports.

Click (series) written by Kayla Miller
This graphic novel has an introspective approach, as we follow 5th grader Olive on her search for the perfect friend group. While she is friends with everyone, she realizes she hasn’t “clicked” with anyone in particular and doesn’t have a “bestie.” She ultimately determines that she can find happiness both within herself and in her different groups of friends. Three more novels, Camp, Act and Clash continue the story with diverse characters and issues of love, friendship, and family.

RELATED:
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feature image via iStock

Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California. 

Are your kiddos superfans of Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz and the famed “Wow in the World” podcast? News released today is going to change things up in a big way.

Tinkercast and Sony Music Entertainment (SME) have announced a new partnership that will develop premium podcast content that caters to kids and families––and undoubtedly take the growing audio market into the next dimension. Leading children’s media company, Tinkercast, and its vision of bringing engaging stories will soon be available on an even bigger scale.

photo: Meeno Peluce

If you aren’t familiar with Tinkercast, it was founded by media veterans Guy Raz, Mindy Thomas and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer. The Tinkercast team creates award-winning, immersive audio-first content that encourages “thinkers and tinkers” to embrace their role of shaping tomorrow.

SME’s role will broaden the scale and scope of Tinkercast’s work with its content creation, monetization and marketing expertise. So what does that mean exactly? You can expect tons of new episodes, international versions of existing content, PLUS brand new shows that will roll out this year!

Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, CEO, Tinkercast said “When we launched Tinkercast and Wow in the World, we were driven by our desire as parents and media makers to engage kids beyond the screen, in conversations and in their future. As parents, we wanted our kids to feel agency in their world. As media makers and storytellers, we believed that well-told stories could inspire hope, optimism and “wow.” We are thrilled to be partnering with Sony Music Entertainment in order to amplify our mission and to bring beloved and new original content to families around the world.”

Tinkercast content and programming will be available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Pocket Casts.

––Karly Wood

 

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A new study conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Carter’s has found some surprising results amidst the pandemic. Despite the fear of navigating the current time, the majority of parents surveyed say that having a baby is the reason they’re optimistic––not scared.

The study revealed that nearly three quarters of parents believe this generation is not associated with stress, but rather optimism and hope. That’s why Carter’s is coining this new era of pandemic babies “Generation Optimism.”

photo: Courtesy of Carter’s

https://tinybeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/iStock-882871204-e1609279368201.jpg

New babies also brought joy to the entire family, especially those little smiles and baby laughs, which 79 percent of respondents said made their day better.

photo: iStock

The pandemic also required parents to adapt, with 45 percent of parents sharing pregnancy news via social media instead of in person. Over half of those surveyed also shared that the majority of stress during this time came from doctors appointments, and that heading to the hospital was the most stressful time of having a baby.

Here’s to a year of hope and optimism in 2021!

––Karly Wood

 

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Photo: Gay Cioffi

The one word that I have heard repeatedly from friends and family as they describe their emotional state during this difficult time is “helpless.” As we cope with the various consequences of the spread of the Coronavirus, we are all grappling with the feeling of a loss of control.

For young children, that feeling may be magnified as they react to school closings, social isolation, and a myriad of other changes to their daily lives. Add in the stress of witnessing their parents struggle with this “new normal,” and if asked, they too might use the word “helpless” to describe their emotional state.

While many things are unknown about the spread of this disease, we do know that wearing a mask, to protect ourselves and others from infection, is the number one action that we can take.

Last spring, when some restrictions were lifted for local businesses, we took my then three and a half-year-old granddaughter to the neighborhood shoe store to get new sneakers. Before venturing out, it was explained to her that she needed to wear a mask—just like her mom and grandmother—so that we could stay safe from germs. It was also emphasized that while staying safe ourselves, we could also be “helpers” to keep others safe as well. And without much resistance, she complied.

When we explain to children that they too have a role to play in stopping the spread of the disease by wearing a mask, this protects them physically but also psychologically. Giving them a concrete action to perform helps to eliminate or minimize their feelings of helplessness. It lets them know that even though COVID-19 is causing problems, there is, in fact, something that we can do about it. And children love feeling that they are part of a solution; it appeals to their natural instincts for optimism and altruism while helping to reduce their anxiety.

These are tough times for all of us, especially kids. While it may seem like a small thing, mask-wearing is vital in stopping the spread of infection while at the same time providing children with some semblance of control. That’s a good thing.

Stay strong and stay safe.

I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.

Can’t wait to get back to Bikini Bottom?  It was just announced that The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run will debut digitally in the US via premium video on demand in early 2021. Afterwards the move exclusively to CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on demand and live-streaming service.  

spongebobmovie

 

“We are thrilled to have The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, a premier, first-run movie from one of ViacomCBS’ biggest brands, join CBS All Access’ expanding slate of franchise content from across ViacomCBS,” said Marc DeBevoise, Chief Digital Officer, ViacomCBS and President & Chief Executive Officer, ViacomCBS Digital. “This launch will be perfectly timed with our continued expansion and planned rebranding of the service in early 2021, as we welcome SpongeBob and the gang from Bikini Bottom to the service in the biggest way possible.”

In addition, all prior seasons of SpongeBob Squarepants will be available on the expanded service soon.

“I’m incredibly proud of this film, and the phenomenal cast and film making team that made it happen,” said Mireille Soria, President of Paramount Animation. “Bringing this movie to life was a true collaboration and labor of love, and I’m thrilled for audiences to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

This new movie follows SpongeBob SquarePants, his best friend Patrick Star and the rest of the gang from Bikini Bottom in the first-ever all CGI SpongeBob motion picture event. After SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home. As they navigate the delights and dangers on this perilous and hilarious rescue mission, SpongeBob and his pals prove there’s nothing stronger than the power of friendship.

Ramsey Naito, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Animation Production and Development said, “We’re happy to give kids and families a much-deserved lift in any way we can, and the PVOD release of the new SpongeBob theatrical and putting all seasons of the TV series on CBS All Access are two of the best ways I can think of to get immersed in the optimism and joy that this terrific character represents.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures 

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