46 FREE SPIRIT PUBLISHING PARENT RESOURCES 46 17 CHAPTER ONE THE WONDER OF NATURE A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. . . . If I had influence with the good fairy . . . I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.” —Rachel Carson Awe doesn’t often make the headlines. But on April 9, 2024, the front page of The New York Times read, “A Divided America Agrees on One Thing: The Eclipse Was Awesome.” Though our town was about three hours south of the path of totality for that solar eclipse, a celebratory atmosphere permeated the community. The day before the eclipse, local online groups were overrun with residents hunting for eclipse glasses and others offering up their extras for free. One of my kids spent the afternoon constructing a moveable 3D eclipse model while the other built a pinhole camera. Many schools let out early. Libraries and community groups hosted watch parties. My family kept it simple and put out lawn chairs and blankets in the front yard. Neighbors wandered over to join us, and a gaggle of kids climbed our Japanese maple tree to get closer to the sun. The birds went silent as we craned our necks toward the sky. As The New York Times reported, “For this moment, a wide swath of this country did the same thing, together, happily and in wonder. Our world of divisions and 47 CHAPTER 3 Sensitive to Stress “In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” —Fred Rogers, The World According to Mister Rogers “I finally just deleted that app from my phone,” an eleventh grader named Sonia told me. She pulled a phone plastered with stickers out of her back pocket and motioned toward its screen. I reflexively grabbed my phone too, won- dering which apps I would be better off without. We had both just served on a panel at a community event on social media and mental health. Sonia had been reserved during the formal question-and-answer session with a large audience. Now that we were off the stage, she seemed eager to talk. “It was time to clean this thing up,” she concluded. “Why did you decide to delete the app?” I asked, curious about her deci- sion-making process. I was impressed that she was able to follow through on something that many adults struggle with. “I was deep into it last year. But this year, I guess I’ve realized it just isn’t worth it.” “Did you spend too much time on it? Or something else?” I asked. “It’s the stress! It isn’t worth the stress. I constantly think about posting, responding, and just being in there. And after a while, it stopped being fun.” “Sounds like a thoughtful move,” I replied. A truly inspiring book for parents and caregivers, and for the kid inside us all. · Explores how awe and wonder can and should be a part of every childhood, and how becoming an awe-seeker can change your life and your parenting in profound and concrete ways. · Find concrete strategies and resources—from activities to booklists—to help you take what you’ve learned, apply it to your parenting, and share your wonder with your children. Support your teen’s growth and guide them through the complexities of the digital landscape by building a strong relationship. · Equips parents with the tools and understanding to guide them confidently as they navigate their changing body, evolving identity, and the ever-present use of technology. · Develop a partnership mindset, creating an environment where your teen feels understood, supported, and ready to contribute meaningfully to the world. Raising Awe-Seekers How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive Grades Pre·K–12 Pub Date: May 2025 Paperback 240 pages Trim Size: 6 in. x 9 in. 9798885549349 by Deborah Farmer-Kris It's Their World Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence Grades 4–12 Pub Date: May 2025 Paperback 264 pages Trim Size: 6 in. x 9 in. 9798885547949 by Erin Walsh
