Use these ideas and resources for helping you raise compassionate, conscientious children who become committed citizens and solutionaries. Curated by the Institute for Humane Education.
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humane parenting
Cultivating Humane & Ethical Values
Most people want a compassionate, healthy, just world. Use these resources to help cultivate humane values (such as kindness, compassion, empathy, and integrity) in your students and yourself. Curated by the Institute for Humane Education.
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Creating the Space for Conversations With Young People About Compassion for Others
by Abby Power Can we have an open dialogue with our children and students about what is happening in the world today? I say yes! Children have an extraordinary capacity for critical thinking when given the opportunity to practice it. I have found that there are three main areas that help in creating a space…
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11 Children’s Books About Nonviolent Protest and Resistance
by Marsha Rakestraw Protests and nonviolent resistance are an integral part of human culture. On any given day, there are protests happening around the world. Protests have helped bring about civil and workers’ rights, environmental protection measures, and better treatment of nonhuman animals. And with so many protests in the news (and in the streets…
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I Am a Humane Educator: Karen Patterson
IHE M.Ed. graduate Karen Patterson works as the director of humane education for the Humane Society of Huron Valley in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she built their humane education program from scratch. Karen spent 10 years as an elementary classroom teacher, where she incorporated humane education into her classroom lessons and activities. She and her…
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11 Children’s Picture Books That Shatter Gender Stereotypes
by Marsha Rakestraw Just as we like to pretend that we live in a post-racial society, many of us want to avoid talking about sexism, stereotypes, and gender inequities. After all, women are CEOs and scientists and MMA fighters. And men can (sometimes) express their feelings (in certain cases), and can be stay-at-home dads and…
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5 Strategies to Help Raise Caring Kids
by Marsha Rakestraw We want our children to be kind and to grow up as caring adults. According to a survey, more than 96% of parents say that moral character is “very important, if not essential.” But how often does that happen, especially when 81% of children surveyed think that happiness or achievement is their…
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The Joy of Generosity: 19 Children’s Picture Books
by Marsha Rakestraw Every holiday season there’s a bizarre conflicting focus on acquiring and sharing, getting and giving. Help bring the joy of generosity into clearer focus for younger kids with the help of these 19 children’s picture books. 1. Shoebox Sam by Mary Brigid Barrett 2011. Grades PreK-2. Delia and Jessie spend Saturdays with…
Read more »Giving In to “Bad Guys”: The Parental Struggle of Making Choices That Support Our Values
Image courtesy of mikecs83 via Creative Commons. We’re swamped with some exciting projects (stay tuned), so please enjoy this repost from 11/23/10. by Mary Pat Champeau, IHE’s Director of Education “Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates us to invention. It shocks us out of sheeplike passivity,…
Read more »Why We Need Humane Education: Study Shows Children Don’t Get Outside Playtime
Research has repeatedly shown that we need regular exposure to the natural world. We’re happier and healthier when we’re connected to the natural world. Studies also show improved cognitive function and stress management and lower obesity levels in children who get time outside. But according to a recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics…
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