July 22: Raising Children Who Can Think for Themselves
how society shapes the way children and young people see themselves, each other and the world they live in
Over the past three weeks, we've explored the many influences that shape our children's lives. We've reflected on the messages they receive from society, the importance of belonging and representation, and the increasingly complex digital world that surrounds them every day. Together, these conversations have highlighted just how much today's children are expected to navigate as they grow, learn and begin to form their own understanding of the world.
While we cannot control every influence our children encounter, we can help shape the way they respond to them.
That is where this final week begins.
We'll be exploring the skills that help children meet those challenges with confidence, resilience and curiosity. We'll look at how we can encourage critical thinking, nurture emotional strength and help young people develop the confidence to ask questions, consider different perspectives and make thoughtful decisions in a world that often encourages quick opinions and instant answers.
Today we begin with one of the most valuable life skills we can teach our children: the ability to think critically. Not to question for the sake of questioning, but to approach ideas with an open mind, to seek understanding before judgement and to feel confident exploring the world with curiosity rather than simply accepting everything they hear or see.
Because raising resilient children is about giving them the confidence to navigate whatever the future may bring, knowing they have the skills to think for themselves, stay true to their values and continue learning throughout their lives.
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🔔 coming up on The Work Edit:
Rats, carrots and sport!
coming up on Cultural Calendar Club
12 Months of live, inspiring, entertaining talks events, made financially accessible for all organisations
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International Self Care Day: Self‑Care is not negotiable.
Friday 24 July 2026
12:00 13:00
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In this 60‑minute webinar, we’ll dismantle the myth that self‑care is a luxury or an indulgence. Once again, we’ve been sold short-term, capitalist quick fixes—like scented candles and bubble baths—as if they could patch over much deeper, systemic problems.
Real self‑care is far less glamorous and far more powerful. It’s about boundaries. About rest. About tuning into our natural rhythms and creating the space to truly know ourselves.
We often frame self‑care as something we do for others—role‑modelling healthier behaviours, being better colleagues, parents, partners. And yes, that matters. But the deeper truth is this: we don’t need to earn rest or justify our wellbeing. We need to normalise self-love without attaching it to usefulness.
Self‑care is a political act. It's about reclaiming what we all deserve—without guilt—and refusing to burn out while trying to fix the very systems that make it so hard to care for ourselves in the first place. Because access to self-care isn’t equal, and recognising that is part of the work.