TED Talk - Helen Pearson - Lessons From the Longest Study on Human Development

Opening Your Time Together
In your small group, please discuss the following:

• Share your names, where you live, and your children’s names/ages
• In part, our video today advocates reading as a part of bedtime routines – what are/were some of your favorite books to read to your children?  Are/were there any books that you just can’t stand reading?
• Our video today covers a multi-generational study on children’s upbringings – what are some advantages that your children experience today that you may not have experienced as a child?  How about disadvantages?

Watching the TED Talk

• To watch Helen Pearson's talk, "Lessons From the Longest Study on Human Development", click here.

Discussing the TED Talk

• Pearson shares what she feels are the hallmarks of engaged parenting: talking/listening to them constantly, teaching them about the world, and reading to them every day.  Are you surprised with how verbal all of those hallmarks are?  Why might these things be of such value to children?
• Pearson also notes that childhood poverty has an extreme adverse effect on children’s long-term health and happiness.  What are some ways, as individuals and as a church, that we can look to make a positive impact?
• How can we teach our kids compassion and empathy?