Plus, a National Park quiz; another back-to-school concern; promoting kindness; Daniel Tiger
|  | Sunday, August 22, 2021 | | | | |
| In today’s newsletter, another back-to-school concern; promoting kindness; Daniel Tiger … and a National Park quiz. | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY KALI9 / GETTY IMAGES | | By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief
Lately I've been reading a lot of horror stories about adults behaving very badly, everything from diners dumping out to-go boxes at the front door of a restaurant because they were irritated with their wait time, to fliers punching out flight attendants who were just trying to do their jobs. Some will blame this on divisive politics or social media vitriol. Others will point to a cave-person mentality as we re-emerge from pandemic isolation.
Or have we just forgotten how to be nice? And if we’ve forgotten, does that mean kids have, too?
Parents are definitely worried about it. According to a recent survey of 2,000 parents from ed-tech company Osmo, seven in 10 believe that the pandemic will have an impact on their kids’ social skills. These include good manners like waiting their turn (31 percent), sharing (35 percent), and saying “please” or “thank you” (37 percent).
And yet, being kind is essential to a child’s physical and mental well-being. According to the Mayo Clinic, practicing kindness can decrease the stress hormone cortisol and increase the body's feel-good endorphins. (Email me the nicest thing your child has done lately.)
So if you’re concerned about Neanderthal-type behavior as your kids head back to school, here are some ideas to bring out the “kind” in “kindergarten” (or, you know, whatever grade your kid is in …):
• Practice social skills. Whether you’re arranging IRL playdates with someone your child hasn’t seen in a year or setting up “pretend school” to normalize hand-raising, practicing good behavior can translate to actual good behavior. This article has other suggestions to get kids over their social awkwardness.
• Be a good friend. This isn’t just about BFFs. It’s also about sitting next to the lonely kid at lunch, reaching out to the child who’s been bullied, or making a friendship bracelet for a new kid. (This article has advice on diversifying your child’s social group.)
• Volunteer. Even if we’re still not quite out-and-about, kids have lots of at-home options to help others, like posting kind signs to uplift a neighbor’s spirits or writing letters to retirement home residents. This article has other ideas as well.
• Practice an attitude of gratitude. Encourage kids to keep a gratitude journal or leave secret thank-you messages on rocks; these other tips can inspire them, too.
• Be kind to the environment. Whether it’s as simple as leaving seashells on the shore so critters don’t lose their homes (here are other do-not-disturb-the-wildlife ideas) or something more complex like organizing a neighborhood cleanup, kids have plenty of ways they can be nice to the Earth—and therefore to other people.
I’m sure like the rest of us, kids are going to have moments of frustration that might come across as mean from time to time. But hopefully as we all continue to get used to the in-person world again, we’ll at least remember to say “thank you” to an overworked employee.
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 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES | | | The politics of history. As a child attending elementary and middle school in Oklahoma (a very, very long time ago), I learned a lot about the 1889 Land Rush—in which settlers staked their claim in what was then known as Indian Territory—but not that the settlers were almost exclusively white, or the devastating effect the land grab had on the Native Americans who actually lived there. (I also had never heard of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre until just a few years ago.) I’m sure that the curriculum has changed in the many (many) years since, but even today, teaching about discrimination and race through history has become controversial. Some 28 state legislatures and school boards are proposing laws or policies shaping how students are taught about sexism, racism, and other hot-button topics—angering parents and teachers on both sides of the issue. (Above, a girl holds up a sign at a June 12 rally in Leesburg, Virginia, protesting the teaching of what some call "critical race theory" in schools.) This article helps explain the debate—and how you can positively affect your kids’ understanding of history, no matter what’s going on in their school. | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY BECKY HALE, MARK THIESSEN | | | Bag it. Never mind forgettable lunchboxes or throwaway paper bags. Have kids make their own easy-to-craft carriers instead. This one (above) has a drawstring at the top, and another rolls down and ties. If children are feeling really eco-friendly, they can try their hand at this cutlery holder to fit inside their cool new lunch bag. | | | |
| DESTINATION OF THE WEEK: IRELAND | |
 | PHOTOGRAPH BY KARL-HEINZ RAACH, LAIF/REDUX
| | Pirate queen. Who would’ve thought that picturesque Crew Bay (above) was once a hangout for pirate ships? In Ireland? And ships belonging to a woman pirate, no less!? Kids might think of pirates as swashbuckling men terrorizing the U.S. East Coast or the West Indies, but Grace O’Malley hailed from Ireland’s County Mayo—and a new tourist trail is being developed to showcase the town where she was born in 1530, the bay where she docked her ships, her castles, and more. Check out this article to learn more about the trail and this Irish trailblazer—including why her nickname was “Bald Grace.”
Family discussion: Is there a TV show your family prefers that promotes kindness? A colleague recommends the Emmy-winning PBS Kids series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood for pre-school stories of sharing, handling disappointment, and being a friend. What’s your favorite? Let us know! | | | |
| TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS | |
 | PHOTOGRAPH BY RICH REID, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION
| | Park it! If your family didn’t make it to a national park this summer, try the next best thing (especially since Wednesday is the 105th anniversary of the National Park Service). This silly personality quiz will tell children which park might suit them most, or they can try making this origami wolf inspired by the canines in Yellowstone. Swipe through amazing photos and fun facts from parks like Hawaii Volcanoes, Sequoia and Kings Canyon (home of the cute black bear above), and Great Smoky Mountains, then check out our National Parks hub for more. After learning about the park system’s history, kids can then take this quiz to test their park smarts. Inspire them with more printable games and coloring pages, then empower them to plan your next adventure with Nat Geo Kids’ National Parks Guide U.S.A.
3 more places to visit … Our Summer Adventures on the Road series has come to an end, but you can still gather your family for a fun, educational excursion. Each stop on our virtual journey, including Yellowstone National Park, the Everglades, and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, is now available for your access. Delve into interactive lessons that teach young learners about each destination through journaling and drawing exercises, videos, outdoor challenges, Kahoot games, and more. Materials are both digital and printable, and can be used as a helpful resource for in-person family trips. Start your end-of-summer adventure today!
This newsletter was edited and curated by Rachel Buchholz, with David Beard and Monica Williams. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead! | | | |
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