Category Archives: parenting middle school aged children

The Importance of Social Emotional Learning

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

At a recent Parent Involvement Association (PIA) Meeting, our accomplished Division Heads and our amazing School Counselor shared our SEL curriculum with parents. We like to say the “the social emotional curriculum sets the table for the academic and cognitive … Continue reading →

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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

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…

Parenting in a time of chaos in the news…

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

Parenting is fraught with issues as 24 hour news cycles plague us with the most recent stories of violence, hate speech and hateful rhetoric. The following NY Times parenting piece reminded me of when I held my 11 month old … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, Common Sense Media, education, fear, helping children cope with tragedy, new york times, NY Times, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, resilience, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, the science of emotion | Tagged , | Comments Off on Parenting in a time of chaos in the news…

Helping children with the social struggles of social media…

Posted on January 21, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

We’ve just concluded our winter grade level roundtables at Seven Hills, and some of our parenting conversations have been very similar to the advice shared here.

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, education, new york times, NY Times, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged | Comments Off on Helping children with the social struggles of social media…

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…

FortNite guide for parents!

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a hot topic for parents right now! Common Sense Media has some, well, common sense for families about how to navigate this. Common Sense Media Guide to FortNite for Parents

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Top Ten Skills for Middle School Students!

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Top 10 Skills for Middle School Students! This is a great list, very thorough, and completely accurate for middle schoolers!  

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How do we talk to our children about the election?

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This has been a week of election chatter and deciding what and when to discuss with children .his remains a very useful resource. Common Sense Media: Kids and the Election 2016

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, childhood development, grief, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, resilience | Tagged , | Comments Off on How do we talk to our children about the election?

Parenting Blues during the Middle School Years!

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Parenting Blues during Middle School IN all my work with middle school families over twenty seven years in independent school, this is still a truism: when they are at their most variable and vulnerable, so are we… Thanks, Mary Murphy, … Continue reading →

Posted in adolescent development, body image, childhood development, education, parenting middle school aged children, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, wall street journal | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment