52 Essential Conversations to Inspire Children: Recent Episodes
Jenny Woo
Research-backed tips and hacks straight from parents, educators and neuroscientists on raising motivated, confident, and compassionate children. Hosted by Jenny Woo, Harvard educator, mom of three, and creator of the social and emotional skills game used in families, schools, and clinics in 20+ countries. Designed for busy parents: short episodes, knowledgeable guests, and packed insights.
In this episode, I chat with Sarah Engle and Bene Webster, co-founders of UsPlus on the topic of mastery in the context of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). We provides insights on the following:
- Perfectionism vs. Mastery
- How to support and assess social emotional learning (SEL)
- SEL trends in the classroom
- Teacher’s mindsets on SEL
- Deep listening and Productive disagreements
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm airing a special series of intimate and insightful interviews with educators and professors on topics related to Implicit Bias. Our seventh topic of the series: Whiteness and Niceness.
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Angelina Castagno, Professor of Educational Leadership and Foundations at Northern Arizona University, and the Executive Director of Just Perspective, LLC. She discusses her research around the concepts of Whiteness and Niceness in terms of inequity and injustice with the interaction of race, gender, and social class.
Here are just a few examples of the many experiential learning anecdotes and definitions covered in this episode:
- The price of nice: how the privilege of “colorblindness” perpetuates social inequity and injustice
- What “Whiteness” means through the lens of identity, ideology, and institution
- A series of self-reflective questions parents and teachers should be asking themselves on race and racism
- Unpacking the definitions and implications in Equality vs. Equity
- Concrete examples of what parents and teachers can do to promote social justice through “sphere of influence”
- Personal parenting examples on how to talk to children about race and racism
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Judy Wu, PhD Stanford, Professor and Chair of Asian American Studies in the School of Humanities, at the University of California, Irvine. She shares her personal experience on as an Asian immigrant and anecdotes on raising her children in California and Ohio. The following topics were discussed:
- Overview of the history of Model Minority
- Uncovering how assumptions could negatively impact Asian American students in the support they receive for mental health and academic interventions
- The relationship between model minority and systemic discrimination
- How to have a conversation with children on race: need vs. opportunity
- Concrete examples of how schools and public institutions can create an inclusive and global understanding of the United States
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm airing a special series of intimate and insightful interviews with four Harvard educators and two University of California professors on topics related to Implicit Bias. Our fifth topic of the 6-part series: Language.
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Elizabeth Pena, Speech Language Pathologist and professor at the University of California, Irvine. She shares insights on issues and myths in language diagnostics in schools based on her 30+ years of experience in the field and in research. The following topics were discussed:
Implicit Bias (Language Impairment & Bilingualism)
- Debunking parenting and schooling myth around language usage
- The role of bilingualism in Special education
- Developmental Language Disorder: what it is and ways to diagnose
- Consequences in overidentification to under-identification of language impairment
- How parents can advocate for timely and accurate language testing at school
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm airing a special series of intimate and insightful interviews with four Harvard educators and two University of California professors on topics related to Implicit Bias. Our fourth topic of the 6-part series: Special Education.
In this episode, I chat with Melanie, Emmy award winning filmmaker, community activist, mother of 3, and former ward of the state. She shares her personal experience raising and advocating for a daughter with Down syndrome. She discusses implicit biases she had as a new parent and biases she has encountered as an educator and parent. She shares a number of resources in this episode, and in addition:
- Mainstream biases around learning disabilities and how to deal with it
- How to “see to believe” for yourself and others
- How to set expectations for yourself and your child
- Persistent, Professional, Polite. Ways to advocate for your child
- How teachers and educators can find their voice when working with children with special needs.
- How to select the right school for your child
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm airing a special series of intimate and insightful interviews with four Harvard educators and two University of California professors on topics related to Implicit Bias. Our third topic of the 6-part series: Race.
In this episode, I chat with Ivonne Ortega about how and when to talk about race and gender biases with your children. We discuss the concept of implicit bias and what it means in families, schools, and society. Ivonne shares tips on how to equip your child with the language of a critical thinker to talk about racism.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm airing a special series of intimate and insightful interviews with four Harvard educators and two University of California professors on topics related to Implicit Bias. Our second topic of the 6-part series: Gender.
Courtney shares her wealth of knowledge on:
- How to have conversations with your children about gender identity and gender expression
- What to do when your child asks questions related to pre-defined gender norms
- Things to watch out for when talking to your daughter or your son
- How to select an inclusive school for your child
- What schools can do to diagnose their culture and climate
- What an inclusive curriculum looks like
- TONS of quality and research-based resources related to gender and sexuality, in forms of TED talks, books, and organizations
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm airing a special series of intimate and insightful interviews with four Harvard educators and two University of California professors on topics related to Implicit Bias. We kick it off today with Privilege: what it is and what it is not, and how we can talk openly about it with young people.
As an Equity and Inclusion fellow and Harvard educator, Andrew shares his personal and professional experience on:
- What privilege is and misconceptions around this word
- How to talk to our children about privilege
- Ladder of Inference to frame the sources of our privileges and assumptions
- Difference between luck and privilege (a question on the 52 Essential Conversations game)
- How to reevaluate your definitions of a “good” school
- ...and much more!
In this episode, I take the interviewee position and share with you an interview I had with KUCI 88.9FM. First, I'm happy to announce that the social and emotional learning game I've developed, 52 Essential Conversations is now used in all 50 states and 31 countries. Then, I share with you my responses to the most commonly asked questions related to how to make the most out of the game.
"What do I do when my child does not fit into any box?"
"How do I teach my child perseverance?"
"How do I help my child process obstacles and mistakes?"
Tune in to my intimate conversation with Taheera Massey, an Elementary teacher, mom of three, and Yogi. Taheera shares her personal story of how she overcomes obstacles when she was a young mom. She provides ways on how language and self-talk shape your perspectives, and in turn, translate into how her students, children, and surrounding adults view her. She shares tips on how to include children in the conversation and encourage them to "create their own boxes."
"How do I groom my child to be a leader?"
"Why can't my child play well with others?"
"How can my students work together for the great good?"
In this episode, Amanda Dunne Acevedo, an arts educator and teacher trainer, breaks down what collaboration means in classrooms and homes. We discuss why it is important to help children see the bigger picture beyond the basics of a Chores chart. We also point out how flexibility, adaptability, and gratitude fit into collaboration.
I chat with Joe about his role as a High School teacher and Swim Coach on how he cultivates patience in students and athletes. He shares tips on how to navigate among conflicting emotions related to patience, reward, disappointment, effort, failure, and motivation. He shares an insightful approach he learned from an Austrian Olympic swimmer on how to stay motivated when things get tough.
"How do I raise a child with a worldly view?"
"How do I protect my child from the harsh realities of the world?"
Carolyn and I discuss the deeper meaning behind the word "citizenship." She shares her experience of finding a sense of belongingness as a world traveler and holder of multiple passports. She talks about the process of inquiry she does with her students to understand attitudes, identities, and biases. We discuss the power of stories and share tips on how we can help ourselves and our children build citizenship starting within our neighborhoods.
- How do I help my child to notice opportunities to be generous?
- How do I embed the spirit of generosity into our everyday lives?
This week, I sit down with Michael to discuss the topic of Generosity. Michael shares his experience as a teacher on how to build a classroom culture that promotes generosity in students. He discusses ways to encourage a class to function as a team. He shares an example of students working together on a mission and stories on how he learned generosity as a child. We discuss how to embed the mindset of generosity into our everyday lives.
"How do I talk to my children about race?"
"How do I help my child become aware of gender stereotypes?"
In this episode, I chat with Ivonne Ortega about how and when to talk about race and gender biases with your children. We discuss the concept of implicit bias and what it means in families, schools, and society. Ivonne shares tips on how to equip your child with the language of a critical thinker to talk about racism.
In this episode, I chat with Andy Reimer about the concept of Compassion. We discuss the concept of "suffering with" and how it relates to empathy, generosity, and altruism. How do we become open and even seek out the discomfort of "suffering with" ourselves and others?
Andy shares his thoughts about fostering the willingness to go on a journey with others, but also cautions the importance of being mindful about the stories and biases that we bring with us.
“How do I encourage my child to try something new?”
“How do I get outside of my own comfort zone as a parent?”
Hear my conversation with Amelia, Harvard-trained childhood educator and former UK nanny, on how parents can empower children to build life skills through responsible risk-taking. We discuss:
- How nature-based learning can help children practice impulse control.
- How to set boundaries on responsible risk-taking.
- How parents can deal with frustrations and fear within themselves in risk-taking.
"How do I help my child build the inner compass for purpose and action?"
"How do I get my child to be more independent and self-sufficient?"
This week, I chat with Marion Geiger, the Head of School of Capucine Montessori, a French-English Bilingual Wildflower school. We discuss how to foster agency from autonomy in preschoolers to inspired independence in older students. We discuss:
- Myth in the notion of agency in children
- How trust and boundaries promote agency.
- Benefits between long-term gain versus short-term convenience.
- Tips on how to "sit on your hands" and "be the railing of the bridge" for your children and students.
"How do I get my preschooler to stop hitting/biting/pinching others?"
"How do I teach my child to recognize others' feelings?"
In this episode, I interview Amanda Hsu, a Montessori Head of School on the topic of "kindness." She shares an effective anecdote on how she learned about kindness as a child.
She also discusses what parents can do to introduce the concept of inclusivity in relation to kindness.
Lastly, she shares a number of educator-approved books on kindness and feelings.
"How can I get my kid to stop going through the motions?"
"How do I help my child to be more inquisitive?"
This episode features my conversation with Nora Rodriguez, arts and museum educator who shares two simple yet profound questions she uses to ignite curiosity in young people. She provides tips on how to empower children to use concrete evidence to construct a productive process of inquiry and information gathering.
"How can I encourage my child to see the complexities of 'truth'?"
"How do I help my child reconcile contradictory 'truths'?"
"How do I inspire my child to stand up for his/her identity?"
In this week's episode, Tony DelaRosa, educator and founder of Boston Pulse Poetry, shares his personal journey and teaching experience in building a platform for truth. He provides practical ways that parents and teachers can foster children's development of identities and voice. He shares ideas on how to create opportunities to help children process the world and articulate their needs.
"How do I get my child to be more creative?"
"How will creative thinking help my child thrive in the 21st-century?"
Featuring Chelsea Myers as she reflects on her experience working as a 5-12th grade teacher in project-based learning schools and as a neuroscience researcher. We discuss:
- "The Fourth Grade Slump" of decline in creative thinking
- 21st-century innovation: "Problem Finders" vs. "Problem Solvers"
- The power of play, curiosity, failure, and brainstorming
- Growth mindset language to encourage creative thinking
- The "Undermining Effect" noted in neuroscience research
- Center for Childhood Creativity
Why is it important for my child to trust his/her teacher? And vice versa?
Hear my interview with Audra Irvine, a passionate high school biology teacher discuss how effective teachers build trust with her students in the classroom starting from day one. She shares tips from her classroom that helps parents and children foster shared mutual respect and confidence in each other, especially when early adolescents act like know-it-alls. She reflects on the connection between trusting in oneself and self-confidence.
Featuring Tori Todd, teacher and instructional coach and Marissa, neuroscience researcher on ways to foster mindfulness for yourself and your children. As co-founders of Calm Body Active Minds providing mindful yoga to support teachers of Elementary students, Tori and Marissa provide practical ways on how busy parents can incorporate mindfulness into their family lives. Hear them share the latest research and clarify misconceptions related to mindfulness.
Featuring Susan Johnson McCabe, educator, entrepreneur, and former Director of Digital Strategy for Harvard University. Susan discusses the challenges and opportunities that children face in digital literacy and ways to build competencies in becoming responsible media consumers. She shares her research in children's media usage habits and her work in cyberbullying. Lastly, she leaves us with several useful resources on media literacy.
"How do I build resilience in my children?"
"What kinds of stress are good and which ones are bad?"
"How do I recognize when my child needs help?"
"Why are my children so different?"
Is your child an orchid or a dandelion?
Hear my interview with Kara Mohler, Jeopardy winner, High School teacher, and former Middle School special education teacher. Kara discusses ways to build resilience in children by recognizing the differences between productive, tolerable and toxic stress. She also discusses how to support the unique needs of each child based on their needs on the emotional spectrum.
"How do I get my child to voluntarily get things done?" "How do I get my child to be passionate in something?" "When can I stop dangling the carrot of reward?"
Hear from Kate James, a mother of 3, a graduate of Harvard and MIT, and director of NuVu Makerspace studio on everyday things you could do to help your child develop the inner drive to take charge.
"How can I get my shy child out of his shell?" "How do I get my child to stand up for herself?" In this episode, I chat with Kira Repici, Montessori and Yoga teacher, about ways to support your child's own process of unfolding into healthy friendships. In addition, hear how conflict resolution process works in her Montessori classroom. Lastly, important playdate etiquettes for adults.
Featuring Lindsay Clements reflecting on her experience as a teacher and discussing her latest projects as a researcher. Get easy parenting tips on how to encourage perspective-taking in your child to reduce sibling rivalry and build empathy. Hear about research out of Stanford University with researchers around the country on Executive Function skills.
Learn how to co-create responsibilityto inspire agency. Host Jenny Woo chats with Jordan Harrison, who reflects on his experience working with over 2500 8th - 11th graders as the former Director of College Town at Reality Changers. In this conversation, we discuss how the role of adults' mindset on failure could get in the way of delegating responsibilities. What parents can do to help their children develop a sense of identity through their responsibilities.
How do we deliver feedback effectively to our children, and BE HEARD? Hear Jaime Kearney, a seasoned mom and teacher, discuss the biggest obstacles to getting heard when parents give feedback. Identify the reasons why your child is ignoring your feedback. Hear the important first step that most parents skip, which consequently prevents them from getting heard by their children.
What are the pearls of wisdom that you want to leave with your children, and be in peace, knowing that they will be set for life? Jenny Woo, mom of 3 and founder of Mind Brain Parenting shares her response to the question. Hear how and why she created 52 Essential Conversations, and how it will help parents to truly prepare their children for life while transforming quality time.