I don’t know very many people involved in dealing with invasive species in a hands-on fashion. People who are out there pulling or spraying or burning or trapping to try to prevent the spread of unwanted plants or animals, organisms that can fundamentally reshape a habitat. I’m one of those people. So is Tom Pease. …
It’s been such a tough winter, and so spring breaks even sweeter. I’ve spent the last three days at our cabin, and most of my time was spent weeding, digging, hauling and spreading manure, planting, and mulching. I put in leeks, parsley, potatoes, lavender, onions, peas, and beets. The warm season crops are still a …
Today is Happy Provider Appreciation Day, sponsored by the Family Support Center. I work with a lot of childcare providers, and I have so much gratitude and appreciation for the work they do. It’s vital, challenging, and rarely given the respect it deserves. Here’s a song in honor of their work on behalf of our …
Taking Turns is one of the key concepts in early childhood. It lays a foundation for kindness by teaching a central behavior. I wonder if the mythical one percent could use this idea, too.Here’s a song about it, written by me and sung by Faye Stanley. Take Turns © Stuart Stotts 2013
In my upcoming book on kindness, called “Beyond Nice” I have a chapter on manners. Manners are a foundation and a forerunner of deeper kindness. We shouldn’t mistake manners alone for kindness, but there’s definitely a connection. Early Childhood educators spend a lot of time on manners. That’s an important first step. And let’s face …
I cannot watch this video without breaking into laughter filled with incredulity. (Is there a verb for that?) The surreptitously recorded video shows professional development in Chicago. The trainer is using direct instruction techniques on teachers. I’m sure she would say it’s so they can experience it as students would. But if this is what …
I am working on a book about kindness and various ways to promote it, particularly with children. One aspect of kindness is a sense of positive affect, what Buddhists might call the noble truth of “Right Effort.” It’s not about faking it, but it is about cultivating positive feeling and dwelling on beauty and what …