March 20, 2019
Much has been written about the over-scheduled child. Family calendars are packed with so many extra-curricular and enrichment activities, it’s a wonder that children have time to eat, sleep and finish homework. And while kids are so busy, they (and we) are increasingly disconnected from each other as we are drawn to devices and screens.
Parents are searching for ways to reconnect, to keep kids grounded and grateful and to fight against the rising tide of negativity and cynicism. I believe that family service is the answer—a proven way to achieve these goals for your own family while improving the lives of others in your community.
Volunteering together helps parents raise compassionate, empathetic kids with the added bonus of creating warm family memories. But how can you find the time, in the midst of all the other commitments crowding a busy family’s schedule?
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March 2019
Dr. Dan welcomes author Natalie Silverstein to episode #57. Beyond the homework, screen-time, and endless activities, there are bigger challenges for modern parents: figuring out how to raise compassionate, generous, civic-minded children. In her new book, Simple Acts, Natalie Silverstein offers hundreds of practical ideas for incorporating service and the spirit of giving into your family life. Today’s show (and Natalie’s book) is a call to action for all parents to model good values, teach volunteerism, and ultimately help those in need.
In today’s interview, Dr. Dan and Natalie Silverstein discuss:
- Living your values
- Making service a priority
- Volunteering — how we teach our children compassion by modeling it
- How to choose community-service options that are right for your family
- How to create easy kindness project (at the kitchen table)
- Ideas for integrating volunteerism into your jam-packed schedule
- How to talk to children about inequality and suffering in an age-appropriate way
- And much more!
March 12, 2019
Spring break is upon us. We could head to a beach somewhere. We could hide out in our home binge-watching shows. We could create our own staycation at places in Austin that have kid-friendly activities right now.
Or we could take this spring break and start a new family tradition: giving back to our community.
Author Natalie Silverstein has written a guidebook to show us just how to start in small ways and build up to a family culture of doing just that. Her [book] Simple Acts: The Busy Family’s Guide to Giving Back doesn’t require you to jump into a weekly or even monthly commitment. It just wants you to start and gives you age-appropriate suggestions on how to do that...
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April 2, 2019
Simple Acts author Natalie Silverstein, MPH sits down with the hosts of Better Connecticut to discuss the value and benefits of teaching children about kindness and making community service a priority in your family.
March 16, 2019
Simple Acts author Natalie Silverstein, MPH sits down with the Mama Smiles Blog to share tips on creating family volunteer opportunities and getting kids interested in serving their community by giving back!
April 11, 2019
Simple Acts author Natalie Silverstein shares her experiences with teaching empathy and acts of kindness to her family as she provides specific ways parents can give back to their communities with their family and friends on this episode of The Financial Grownup Podcast.
April 18, 2019
Simple Acts author Natalie Silverstein shares her experiences with "playdates with a purpose" in this guest blog from For Purpose Kids.
