Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Learning Lab Workshops!

Looking for a fun and interactive way to boost your child’s math skills before the new school year starts?

Your child won’t want to miss these free workshops that help boost critical thinking!

🗓️ Thursday, July 31st @ 1 PM EST
🏝️ Lost on Math Island
For students in Grades 4–6

🗓️ Wednesday, August 6th @ 5 PM EST
🧭 Equation Explorers: Jumpstart Algebra with Fun Activities
For students in Grades 5–9

Have a Minute? Help Shape our August Workshops!

Tame the Inner Critic

You know that look on your child’s face. It’s the one that appears right after a mistake, a missed answer, or a stumble in front of others.

Maybe their eyes drop, their shoulders sink, or they whisper something like, “I’m so dumb,” or “I can never do anything right.” I

t’s heartbreaking to witness because you know how capable and kind they are… but in that moment, they can’t see it.

That’s the inner critic showing up. It often appears when your child feels like they’ve fallen short, aren’t good enough, or are desperate to be “the best.”

Sometimes it comes from perfectionism. Other times, it’s rooted in fear of failure or constant comparison to others.

While you can’t shut it off for them, you can help them take away its power.

One way to start is by helping your child name that voice. Call it “The Mean Parrot” or “The Bully Brain.” Giving it a funny or separate identity helps them realize that voice isn’t who they are.

And let them see how you handle mistakes. Say things like, “That didn’t go how I planned, but I’ll figure it out.”

When you model self-kindness, they learn to do the same.

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Say This, Not That

When your child makes a mistake, their first reaction might be self-blame or frustration. But with your guidance, those moments can become powerful opportunities to teach resilience, reflection, and self-compassion.

Start with small language shifts.

These everyday swaps can help rewire how your child talks to themselves:

❌ “I’m just bad at math.”
✅ “I haven’t figured this out yet.”

❌ “I always mess up.”
✅ “Everyone makes mistakes. I can learn from this.”

❌ “I’m the worst.”
✅ “That was hard, but I’m still learning.”

These phrases may seem simple, but over time, they help your child trade judgment for curiosity and build a mindset that embraces growth.

You can also try this quick evening ritual to reinforce a positive internal voice. At bedtime, ask your child to reflect on:

• One thing I did well today

• One thing I learned from a mistake

• One thing I’m proud of

This takes just a few minutes but helps shift their focus away from what went wrong and toward what’s going right.

Little by little, it teaches them to see themselves as capable, growing, and worthy… no matter the outcome.

Helping Kids Navigate Digital Perfection When Filters & Feeds Shape Self-Worth

You want your child to feel good about who they are — their quirks, their creativity, their character. But in today’s digital world, it’s getting harder for kids to hold onto that authentic sense of self.

Even before they hit the age of “likes” and “followers,” they’re absorbing subtle messages from videos, games, and social platforms about what’s “cool,” what’s “beautiful,” and what’s “worthy.”

And what do they often see?

Perfection. Polished, filtered, edited-to-impress perfection.

It’s no wonder some kids start saying things like, “I’m not good enough,” or “I don’t look like that.” These quiet comparisons can feed the inner critic — especially in kids who are already hard on themselves.

Here’s how to help:

Normalize What’s Real: Watch a video or scroll a feed together. Pause and say, “This looks perfect — but do you think they used filters or edits?” Help your child see behind the scenes.

Start Conversations, Not Lectures: Ask open-ended questions like, “How does watching this make you feel?” or “Do you ever compare yourself to people online?” Then just listen. Your empathy is more powerful than advice.

Praise Character Over Clicks: Compliment your child on their kindness, effort, or creativity. Remind them that their worth has nothing to do with appearance, popularity, or what fits inside a square frame.

Model Self-Acceptance: Be mindful of how you talk about your own appearance, skills, or success. Kids notice. Show them what it looks like to be kind to yourself… even when the world pushes perfection.

Helping your child untangle their self-worth from social media is one of the most important things you can do in today’s digital age. Keep showing up with honesty, curiosity, and connection… that’s what truly makes them feel seen.

Last week, we asked:

If your child had their own AI assistant, what would you hope it could help them with most?

Here’s what parents said:

🥇 43% – 🤖 Building confidence and curiosity in math
🥈 29% – 🤖 Supporting emotional regulation and self-awareness
🥉 14% – 🤖 Staying focused and organized with schoolwork
🏅 14% – 🤖 Managing screen time and digital distractions
🚫 0% – 🤖 Asking more thoughtful questions and exploring ideas

One thing is super clear… parents are eager for tools that go beyond quick answers and actually build confidence and emotional strength.

We’re asking parents like you to share their thoughts on topics that matter each week! Cast your vote and see what others think! We’ll chat more about the results next week. 👀

Each of these tools supports your child’s emotional and academic growth — because raising a resilient learner starts with what we feed their minds and hearts.

Wondergrade
A fun, interactive app that helps kids understand their feelings and reframe negative thoughts with more optimistic and realistic thinking. Great for building emotional awareness in younger kids.

GoZen!
Animated videos and activities that teach emotional resilience, positive self-talk, and growth mindset in a way that clicks with kids. Backed by science and loved by educators.

Thinkster Learning
Thinkster isn’t just about math worksheets — it’s about building confidence. Our coaches help students learn from mistakes, develop a growth mindset, and celebrate effort, not just right answers. Try it free and see how we help kids think stronger, not just solve faster.

Until Next Week…

It’s not easy to change the way your child talks to themselves, but every moment of compassion, modeling, and encouragement adds up.

By helping them build a kinder inner voice, you’re giving them lifelong tools for emotional strength and resilience.

Thanks for joining us in raising kind, capable, and confident humans. We’re so glad you’re here.

❤️ Loved this issue? Have thoughts, questions, or topic ideas?

Share your vote below or drop us a note at [email protected].