As parents, our primary goal is to raise considerate, confident, and resourceful future adults. While it may be tempting to believe that academic excellence alone paves the way to success, that’s just one facet of their development. Equipping our children with essential life skills is equally vital. Raising well-rounded, self-sufficient individuals is more valuable than prioritizing financial success.

Did you know that 85 percent of career success comes from highly developed soft skills? According to research from Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford University, only 15 percent of career success is attributed to hard skills or technical skills learned through education. With this in mind, teaching our students soft skills is critical in setting them up for success as future professionals. Although academic excellence is crucial, incorporating soft skill development through extracurricular activities and practice at home can significantly benefit your student.

School is out, traffic is calm, and summer is here! As the days slow down, now is the perfect time to savor time outside. Although most of us enjoy being outdoors, it can sometimes be a challenge to prioritize because of weather conditions and other barriers.

Regardless of obstacles, below we share the benefits and five practical ways to get outside this summer.

Organized sports have evolved significantly over the past decade with the introduction of esports. Esports, a term short for electronic sports, is a team-based competition using video games. In 2016, only seven colleges and universities had varsity esports programs. Less than a decade later, it has expanded to include over 170 institutions in the US. If your high school student is a gamer, they can earn scholarships and get paid to play during college. Some universities now offer esports degrees.

It’s been said that “the greatest wealth is health." Most of us take it for granted until we experience health issues ourselves. Over time, we become aware of the priceless gift of good health and learn to appreciate it more. Many of us feel some level of regret, wondering what we could have done differently to prevent certain diseases or discomforts.

You are not alone. Limited health literacy is a national issue, which can result in preventable diseases, more visits to the hospital, and higher healthcare costs. The good news is that health literacy information is on the rise so that we can educate the younger generations on how to care for themselves, along with taking better care of ourselves.

Batching is completing similar tasks in bulk or buying in bulk. For instance, a recipe will typically make a batch of cookies (yielding many cookies) instead of just one cookie. You are already using up the same ingredients, getting the same dishes dirty, and putting in the effort so why not get more cookies out of it?

What comes to mind when you think of the term “self-care”? Perhaps a deep tissue massage, a spa day, or a weekend getaway. But, self-care doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. The more important factor is that self-care is consistent and enjoyable.

Do you struggle to prioritize investing time and energy into your relationships? With the demands of day-to-day life, it can be easy to neglect love as an area of your life that requires intention and attention. As Esther Perel, psychotherapist, says “The quality of your life ultimately depends on the quality of your relationships.” Take this blog post as your gentle reminder to prioritize love by implementing the tips below.

From distractions like e-mail, co-workers dropping by for a quick question, and smartphones, maintaining concentration can seem like an impossible feat.

The good news is that this skill can be practiced. Focus is like a muscle that must be exercised to be strengthened. It is an essential component of increasing productivity.

What is it about starting a new year that is so invigorating? Maybe it’s the excitement of a fresh start or the opportunity to prove to yourself that you can finally stick with your resolutions this year.

The promise of a new beginning leaves most of us motivated to change. The problem is that we get overly ambitious and set unrealistic New Year’s Resolutions that we can barely stick to until February

It’s been said that your budget and calendar best reflect what you value because it documents how you spend your time and money. If you think about how you allocate these precious resources, you (like most of us) will likely find room for improvement.

Burnout is a national epidemic, evident during the 2021 “Great Resignation” where 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs. In a 2021 survey of 1500 workers, over 50 percent claimed that they were burned out from work. This sentiment has trickled down to our kids as academics have become more competitive than ever before. 

If you believe your student is experiencing burnout or on their way to burning out, this article is for you. With your guidance and support, your student can reverse or avoid burnout altogether.

An attitude of gratitude reminds us of what we have, rather than focusing on what we don’t have. Although we all take things for granted at times, being intentional about gratitude can help us cultivate contentment (being happy with what we already have).