When we’re trying to teach children to relate to others in empathic and considerate ways, it’s exciting to think about a neurological concept called social-emotional matching. Matching is a way that our brains synchronize with others’, and it happens all the time. When a friend or colleague shares an upset, we show empathy through eye contact and sympathetic facial expressions. Our ability to align with their emotions is part of being fully present and connecting. When people

Our staff has been tootling a lot this year. Is that something to be concerned about? No, it’s a good thing! “Tootling” is the opposite of tattling. Tattling is telling a parent or teacher or other adult about something “wrong” another child has done. Tootling is noting a simple, small moment or recognizing a general quality you appreciate about someone. Staff members write “tootles” anonymously on Post-Its and put them in a box in our break room. Receptionists Katie O’Callag

It’s interesting that when asked to share photos of their children helping, most parents selected pictures of home cooking projects. I was happy to see that many of the children exhibiting cooking skills were quite young. When it comes to encouraging children as helpers in the kitchen or any other environment, starting at an early age is important. A three-year-old is excited to learn how to slice a banana or a stalk of celery. An eight-year-old who hasn’t been taught how to

The term "my new best friend" popped into our culture as the title of a British comedy series. (Didn’t we always use this phrase?) The popularity of the phrase, offers an insightful, positive perspective on relationships in this 21 st century. At the time this idiom emerged, a New York Times article explored the idea that, with the modern tendency of children to spend most of the day in groups, finding an enduring best friend for your child may be an antiquated concept. The

Meet Sidney the Snake and her human friend Jess, Meher School parent and alumna! Jess, a naturalist from East Bay Regional Parks District, visited some elementary classes this week to teach students about native animals and their habitats. In addition to getting to pet Sidney, students compared teeth of carnivores and herbivores, felt coyote fur, observed a taxidermy acorn woodpecker, and deepened their understandings of the natural world we live in.

Standing in the hall, an elementary schooler was looking down at a group of preschoolers in the yard below playing musical instruments at top volume. I noticed the boy was holding his ears as he looked on, and I asked what he thought of the music. I was surprised that instead of saying, “They’re playing way too loud,” he said, "I have very sensitive ears so I can’t stay and listen.” He turned and walked toward the playground. How wonderful that at a young age this boy knew en

Our Halloween parade on Friday featured a happy assortment of princesses, animals, skeletons, angels, characters from TV, movies, and books, and more. Here “big kids” (elementary students) stroll through the preschool yard, a highlight of the day for both groups. The cleverest costume may have been one that many people at first didn’t even realize was a costume—fifth grade teacher John Murphy dressed up (very convincingly) as elementary Co-Principal “Mr. Vince” d’Assis. He ev

Can children learn to be creative from their school community? The answer is yes, and at The Meher Schools we are interested in fostering original thinking throughout the year. Halloween Halloween is just one example. On Friday our annual parade showcased adults and children using imagination to transform themselves. There was fourth grade and drama teacher Amy Weinstein dressed as her dog, Pete, and Pete dressed as Amy, and art teacher Lara Cannon dressed as her version of a

In this age of succinct emails and text messages, the value of handwritten notes is not lost—especially between parents and children. Parents often place sweet messages in their children’s lunchboxes, providing a nurturing moment of their presence with the good food. Writing letters can also help us communicate with children when spoken words might fall short or might not have the desired results. An apology letter to an older child after an upsetting situation can inspire re