Category Archives: childhood development

Common Sense Media: New Year, New Rules Around Tech for Students/Children

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a big topic of conversation at our school, and so many others. The right age to give a child their first cellphone is really up to you. Age isn’t as important as your kid’s maturity level, their ability to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, children and sleep, Common Sense Media, education, global skills, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, technology, the science of emotion | Comments Off on Common Sense Media: New Year, New Rules Around Tech for Students/Children

On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I am here in Africa for only the second time in my life, the second time in 12 months, as it turns out, preparing for a personal challenge to climb Africa’s tallest mountain. It is sunrise. I am listening to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, David Brooks, NY Times, early childhood education, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, empathy, global skills, mental health, mindfulness, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

What we know about children and the outdoors…

Posted on November 16, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The beauty of school in Northern California is our ability to be outside every day, all year round… The Benefits of Learning OUTSIDE

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, global skills, mental health, mindfulness, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged | Comments Off on What we know about children and the outdoors…

Why we ned to value kindness over achievement… The Atlantic Monthly

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This article by Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant reinforces so much of what we mean when we say “Whole Child” at Seven Hills School. Enjoy! Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adam grant, childhood development, education, global skills, kindness, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mental health, mindfulness, parenting, parenting middle school aged children | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Why we ned to value kindness over achievement… The Atlantic Monthly

EDUTOPIA: What happens when we rush children through childhood…

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some great reminders about the role of wonder in childhood and resisting the “adultification” of childhood. This is something our early childhood educators in Rainbow and RedBarn know so well! EDUTOPIA: Let’s Not Rush Children through Childhood  

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NY Times Parenting tips at home for schoolwork…

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some easily implementable ideas here. And similar to what I am hearing teachers discuss in faculty meetings about what works best in school, it’s also true at home: Remember that consistency is key.   Happy Opening!

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, childhood development, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, global skills, new york times, NY Times, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, resilience, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , | Comments Off on NY Times Parenting tips at home for schoolwork…

Shiza Shahid: finding the path of your own greatest impact…

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Shiza Shahid is a force! She, too, has a compelling personal story that had an unplanned and amazing intersection with Malala. What an inspiring speaker and thinker who is focused on making an impact in the world, and making sure … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, gender studies, global education, global skills, mindfulness, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged , | Comments Off on Shiza Shahid: finding the path of your own greatest impact…

Should the goal be Straight-As? Adam Grant says no…

Posted on December 9, 2018 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I have been an Adam Grant fan for a while. The faculty and staff read one of his books last summer, Give and Take, after I heard him speak at NAIS last year. I agree wholeheartedly with this piece. It … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adult development, childhood development, education, global skills, Harvard's Caring Schools Initiative, leadership, new york times, NY Times, parenting | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Should the goal be Straight-As? Adam Grant says no…

Being Grateful CAN prolong your life…

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

  At Seven Hills, one of our core values is Be Grateful. We teach students to be aware of how lucky they are to be able to attend Seven Hills and to recognize that not everyone is as fortunate. We … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, education, empathy, global skills, gratitude, leadership in children, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Comments Off on Being Grateful CAN prolong your life…

Independent School Magazine: Why Inclusion is the thing!

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

What I love here is the ways schools, specifically Athenian, can measure for inclusion. Why Diversity without Inclusion is a half-baked solution…    

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, diversity, education, global skills, inclusion, leadership, Making Caring Common at Harvard | Comments Off on Independent School Magazine: Why Inclusion is the thing!