If you could do one thing – the most important thing – to influence the life of a young child, what would that be (it’s likely not what you first bring to mind)? We want to improve the wellbeing of children – our own, in our community, and in the world, so thinking globally about this question is vital.
Tom Weisner is an emeritus professor of anthropology and psychiatry at UCLA. He studies and teaches about culture and human development; families and children at risk; and evidence-informed policies to improve the lives of children and families. He has done research in Kenya on the effects on children and parents of rural-urban migration; in Delhi, India on families and children with autism; supports for working poor families in Wisconsin; families with children with disabilities in Los Angeles; hippie and countercultural families and children in California; sibling caretaking and education in Hawaii; non-parental and sibling caretaking around the world; and gratitude and school achievement among Latino adolescents and families in Los Angeles. He has served on the Board of the NGO ChildFund International. He went to Reed College (BA) and Harvard (PhD). He is married to Susan Meade Weisner, and has two sons and four beautiful grandchildren.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
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Spiritual Education in word & deed and the realities that Religion is one, Man is one family and the world needs to be one country. Also "accustom them to hardship." – Baha'i Thought
If environment is the most important thing, then please explain to my small mind how it is that I know so many wonderful individuals who came from poverty ridden, violent, chaotic backgrounds….you see, sir, I'm sure you're MORE educated than I am. Certainly you've traveled more than I have….but if a child has a strong foundation based on love, as well as being introduced to the living God (our creatpr), early on in life, the child can then learn to be content in whatever situation he or she faces in life…..always finding a spark of hope, faith in every situation. If you can instill that into a child, you've made that child wealthy for life.
I feel this is not completely true, it's more of values than where exactly you bring up your child.Kenya is amazing so are our culture,there are great & admirable people from such humbling background
Jambo sana. Habari ghani? Thank you for sharing this educational video.
Title and the talk has little relevance…??
"think of a child"
thinks of myself…
I watched a prison video the other day that focused on a particular man who was finding his experience there difficult. He had cat. The cat was content.
Please stop perpetuating lies about non-western schooling and development and sort out the kids shooting up schools in America. Sick of this colonial bulls#!t
i like the definition of well-being
Not beating them down for having different opinions than yours. And remembering that you cannot make your child to be just like you, they are not your clone they are a completely different human being that you just so happened to create.
Nothing I learned!!!!
There are values that should be taught to all humans regardless of their culture and location.
Secured attachment in the most important.
pretty weird that he refers to a child as "it"……
Just give them your undivided attention for the first few years…. it’s not rocket science
He was way to anxious and the talk was very vague. He didn't get to the core of the answer or anywhere near it. Have another go…….Being loved unconditionally by a caregiver or caregivers is the most important thing you can do for a child. This will set them up for life with confidence, self belief and contentment from there they can achieve anything and they will be more resilient to whatever challenges life throws at them.
Like it or not, he is absolutely correct.
Everybody has to take responsibility because Children inherit the world we have all created.
I once heard someone say —praise a child when praise is due and criticise when criticism is due. I don't know where or who I got it from . Thank you whoever it was I live to it . I hope somebody else will hear this comment ?
Where is Ted tho
8:00
Relationships.
Ahem actually we live in a republican society.
I not impressed. Raising kids is tough. Putting a life back together after a tattered childhood is hard. Turn to spirituality, faith in god. 12 step principals. Be real, admits your own faults. Always strive to do better. Trust God. Life is good.
Read aloud
Love your child!
Research is ABUNDANTLY clear. A child needs first and foremost, a mother and father.
WEIRD is a funny acronym when you consider – 12% of countries as referenced are only rich due to theft and oppression of the rest; are destroyers of democracies in many of the conquered nations; historically less educated and in some senses still so; Industrialised from theft and through the degradation of the planet at large.
I didnt understand anything…thank God its only nine minutes of that child….thay child…..that child..?
As a man who has raised a stepson and am now raising 2 biological children of my own. I must say that both "nature" AND "nurture" have major roles on influencing a child's life. From a "nature" standpoint it will be biologically inclined to be and act a certain way…HOWEVER from a "nurture" standpoint it will learn morals and the differences between what is right and what is wrong. BOTH are important to keep in mind when raising children. REMEMBER my fellow adults, WE ALL were once upon a time a child (for approximately the first 20yrs of our life, depending on the culture). The difference is mainly in how we were "nurtured" more so than how we were created.
I suggest this as a small tool: Pay attention to them.
I was half expecting this guy would burst into tears towards the end of the video. What a lame and disappointing speech.
Came to Kenya to study the influence of migratory patterns on children among the Abaluhya Community? The Abaluhya are farmers- they don't migrate and have lived in the same area for hundreds of years and there is no insecurity to cause any form of migration.
Divorce and daycare are the two worst situations for children. It is as if a tornado ripped through their homes, because the very core foundation and support (mother and father), all they know and need, is destroyed (divorce) or taken away from them every day for 8 hours (daycare). Daycare is maternal deprivation. It is cruel to deprive infants under age three of a maternal figure, which is so essential for optimal development.
The most important thing to teach a child is the word of God. The Truth.
The most important thing you can do for children is LOVE them. I saw poorest children in Cambodia, Indonesia and being SO happy. They don’t know they are missing an IPhone but they do know when parents don’t love them.
Environment is all for a child
My father was frightened of his mother; I was frightened of my father, and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me.
Great Video clip! Excuse me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you tried – Trentvorty Kids Science Theorem (should be on google have a look)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for becoming an excellent parent without the normal expense. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my work buddy got astronomical success with it.
WTF
🙂