We love our little ones. We want to make sure they have a magical childhood that leads to a bright future. To try and achieve this, we pour enormous amounts of time, energy, and financial resources into schools, sports, and a range of other activities. For most of us, the primary influence on our children outside of the home is the school. Our schools get so much right. but are largely forgetting to include the critical non-curriculum components. Key ingredients like empathy and resiliency are needed for our children to succeed academically and as human beings. Many programs that aim to improve the social element are too narrow, unambitious in scope, and often focused on the symptoms instead of the underlying issues.

In Kindness Week Is Weak!, I chronicle my journey from California to Australia and eventually on to Norway, where I learned about positive parenting and what makes the Nordic countries and their kids the happiest in the world. Learn how we can adjust our approach both inside and outside of the school system to give our kids more of the good stuff like healthier friendships, positive peer interactions, and improved mental health. Great schools and healthy minds require happiness. Help turn your child’s school into a Happiness Factory!