In the future, we will be posed with choices. Some transparent others couched as efficiency in your busy daily life. However, as we navigate the choices to enable us to lead our families, we must be vigilant of the changes that are invisible - the ethiical and moral choices that are in progression even now. One day you, or at least definitely your children will have the choice:Do we want to edit our genomes so we can produce children who are smarter, diseaseless, with the potential to live longer? Are we there yet? Almost. However as believers we will feel the prompting in our spirit asking the opposing question: Do we want to continue as God has created us to be — made in His image, with Him as the author and finisher of our destiny? To those fully persuaded  about the Word of God and for those who are fully converted and walking out the lifelong transformation of going from glory to glory, this will not and should not be on the table for discussion. However, this is not about just you. What are you raising your children to understand and believe about their identity?

What are the values that are non-negotiable in their decision-making schema?

How have you been merging your faith and values into daily conversations with your children in this new world evolving around us every day?

Your answers about these questions are more important now than ever now. I know it’s hard to give time and space to this with all of the existential threats to our lives as adults - the job losses that are viral on Youtube and the impending (present) wars and all the associated implications that pervade in our ability to thrive. However, place YOU in a separate space for now (the next 7 minutes) and think about what I am going to ask you now.

How much do you really understand about the patterns of innovation that are reshaping our lives?

#1 To keep AI out of her classroom, this high school English teacher went analog
Here is a great article to think about why we need to balance and be mindful of staying in control of leading our children to develop their metacognitive skills. This does not mean abandoning the cultivation of AI competencies — however, if you are trying to development of a mind for Christ in your kid, you certainly do not want to relinquish them completely to generative AI and its law of” averages” in responses - thiswould be a BIG mistake.

#2. Robots able to perform perfect Kung Fu

China recently released a demonstration of robots performing a perfect Kung Fu. How long do you believe it will be before the full integration in society? What is more, what are the consequences for life as we know it? All entry level opportunities are under threat and we have last year graduates struggles to find their first opportunity in many fields. Not those just barely passing, I am talking about the Ivy league grads. It is time to cultivate the natural talents and musings of your kid while in middle school and high school. Every kid should pursue passions as an entrepreneurial endeavor…More on this later.

#3 In the age of AI, learning how to learn is the ultimate skill: Dr Ayesha Khanna

This is a worthy read. Dr. Khanna is the founder of Girls in Tech and a global leader in AI who shares in an article the future of universities in Singapore. Why should you be interested? Well, she is making visible the problems with the current system that is relative to everyone living everywhere. Universities are behind in their framework of preparing young adults for the future. Another reason why you must….MUST be your child’s coach behind the curtains of school - leading and guiding their mindset, ethics, use of AI, and sheparding how they use their time to optimise this precious safety net of living with you -still. This is the best time for kids to uncover who they could become while they are under your support, direction, and prayers.

Self-regulation is thinking about your thinking. Even for adults, this takes intention, and sometimes cognitive coaching as well as critical friends to master. This is even more true for tweens and preteens who need intentional support to develop critical thinking that will transfer to conscious skilled speaking. Growing in self-regulation happens over time with good reflection practices. However, it does not happen well without consistent practice and making the question types for this practice visible to our kids. They need modeling and cognitive coaching questions to become aware in how to build this this mental muscle. You can help by having as many conversations as possible that allow you to have dialogues about paying attention to thinking in fun ways. While this may happen in school occasionally, teachers do not always provide the time to coach thinking with intention with space and time to link it to self-regulation.

Next time at dinner or while waiting for at an appointment - this is what you are going to do! In advance, acquire some origami paper and show a few pictures of origami and its origins ( you can do this on your phone).

Then challenge your kid with the following:

Make something creative. (You do it too!!)

Make it fun time with a time limit of 3 minutes on the clock. No origami paper? You can order some here

After 3 minutes, share your creation and make your thinking visible with these questions below. As you prepare to share, model aloud your thinking and make sure you use the follow-up questions. They are key to making the questions your kid should ask when focusing on their thinking process.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Big Idea article.

As always I appreciate you showing up and leaning in to this week to daring ideas about preparing out kids to thrive in this world of continuous uncertainty. May the love of God guide us and keep our minds stayed on Him to make wise decisions.

Remember we shoulder a great responsibility - to ensure our kids become resilient, adaptable and able to thrive to their greatest potential in a complex world.

See you next week.

May the spirit of wisdom be your friend today and tomorrow.

Margo