Think about your early years of education (elementary through high school) and identify that which influenced and/or impacted you. Consider your family life, friendships (or lack of), specific classro

Think about your early years of education (elementary through high school) and identify that which influenced and/or impacted you. Consider your family life, friendships (or lack of), specific classrooms, teaching styles, teachers, other students, etc. What stuck with you and what have you let go? Do early experiences “build character” or perhaps linger?+

We have all heard about the girl who wants to join the wrestling team and the boy who wants an Easy Bake Oven. Think about some of your earliest experiences with gender. Consider at school, extracurricular activities, your parents, your friends, etc. Discuss gender roles, stereotypes, myths, and/or controls in society that existed then and you see exist today. Do you feel that males or females have more or less “controls” placed on them by society? Is it fair? Do you believe that boys and girls/men and women should stick to the qualities, interests, etc., that society deems appropriate for their gender?

Of course we can laugh when our parents and grandparents (or even we) reflect on the “good ol' days” when life was simple and children played in the yard, made fun out of anything they could find, and spent minimal time in front of the “boob tube” and even less playing video games. But even if television, the media, film, computers/internet, and video games aren’t necessarily bad for children and teens, give some thought to what they are missing out on by spending so much time with these everyday “outlets.” What might they be doing instead and what might those other activities do for their mental, emotional, and physical health? Have we lost touch with human interaction/communication on some level? Have we come so far that it is too late to get some of that back?

How do you feel about “giving back” or “paying it forward?” Despite your own everyday difficulties and responsibilities, have you ever asked yourself, “How can I help?” Have you any experiences to share? Consider some of the many ways that one can “pay it forward”