Kids today face a ton of challenges. A global pandemic. Skyrocketing rates of depression and anxiety. Extraordinary pressure to excel at school and in sports. The list goes on and on. It’s why internationally-renowned educational psychologist Dr. Michele Borba says she’s never been more concerned about this generation of kids. She’s also never been more optimistic. That’s because the skills kids need to be resilient aren’t locked into their DNA; they can be taught by parents and educators. Best of all, kids are never too old, or too young, to learn how. That’s what Dr. Borba’s newest book, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine, is all about. She’s back with us to explain exactly what a “thriver” is: what special skills do they possess, and what makes them so resilient? Dr. Borba shares simple, practical, science-backed ways parents and educators can teach these skills to children of all ages today – so that they can handle the challenges of tomorrow.

Listen to this episode to learn:
-Seven character strengths you can teach kids to help them thrive in any situation
-How strengths like perseverance, curiosity, and optimism increase a child’s resilience, strengthen their mental health, and boost their academic performance (particularly important as they re-enter the classroom) 
-Ideas for encouraging kids to find their go-to hobby (sorry, social media and video games don’t count!)
-Why a child’s self-confidence is the crucial building block to resiliency
-Easy activities you can do with children at any age to increase their emotional intelligence and build their empathy muscle
-What girls versus boys need in order to thrive, and why we need to “talk feelings” more often with boys
-Why it’s always better to celebrate progress rather than getting the A (the importance of teaching a growth mindset)

For more information, visit https://www.micheleborba.com/.

Generation Thrivers

Brought to you by Care.com, Equal Parts is a podcast for working parents who are trying to balance it all while caring for the people they love – including themselves.

Being a working parent is hard. But you do it for the ones you care for, because they’re the ones you care most about. You can never be prepared for everything that is thrown your way – whether at work or at home. But, the Equal Parts podcast will try to make this a little easier for you. We will talk to experts, authors, and parents who will share their insights, advice, and tips on how to navigate parenthood and professionalism – at the same time.