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TED Talks are pretty amazing – and once you start watching them, they can become quite obsessive. Which isn’t a bad thing considering there are so many talks on seriously interesting topics that can keep you entertained for days. One of my favourite topics to watch are TED Talks for parents, because this parenting gig is pretty darn difficult and it’s nice to know we aren’t alone.
Which is why I created a round up of the best of the best. The most amazing TED Talks for parents that are in the ‘must watch’ category.
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Related: 9 Powerful TED Talks To Boost Your Self Confidence
1 – Jennifer Senior: For Parents, Happiness Is A Very High Bar
Parenting + Anxiety is something many of us know all too well. There’s no manual on how to raise children properly, so the idea of raising children to a standard that isn’t actually determined is pretty darn stressful. This talk is like a big hug of ‘you’re doing okay mama’. Love it.
2 – Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs a Champion
A brilliant insight into the importance of connections and relationships between children and their educators. “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” The role of teachers in our children’s lives is so powerful. Having a teacher who believes in our children, who doesn’t just dismiss them and push them to the side, can be life-changing.
3 – Roberto D’Angelo & Francesca Fedeli: In Our Baby’s Illness, A Life Lesson
When it comes to parenting challenges, dealing with a serious illness would have to be one of the most difficult. I related so much to the part where they say they felt like failures as parents, I felt the same way when my son was in NICU – like, what was it that I missed? What was it that I did wrong? I love so much how they adapted and pushed forward through their challenges. All the feels.
4 – Sarah Kay: If I Should Have A Daughter…
Such a beautiful talk that starts with an incredible spoken word poem that will get you thinking about what we want for our kids in this world. I love how Sarah talks about breaking down the walls of communication with her students (particularly teenagers) who feel as though they have nothing to say, but using her methods actually find they can open up and share their thoughts.
5 – Adira Svitak – What Adults Can Learn From Kids
I absolutely adore this TED Talk, and not just because it’s being presented by a 12 year old. Adora challenges learning to be a two way street, where children learn from adults and adults learn from children. She talks about how children don’t see obstacles like adults do and therefore their scope of possibilities is much wider. A great reminder for us when we keep saying ‘you can’t do that’ to our kids (I know I do…).
6 – Jamie Oliver: Teach Every Child About Food
This was the very first TED Talk I ever watched (and from that moment was hooked!). I love Jamie’s passion for teaching kids about real food and as an extension, getting real food into schools all around the world. Such an important message for our kids.
7 – Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman: Exploding 4 Taboos of Parenting
Literally, every single parent will be able to relate to this. Rufus and Alisa created the website Babble (later acquired by Disney) as a way to share real life parenting moments. A really refreshing, uplifting and funny talk (especially the first taboo – I totally get it!) It really opens your eyes to how alone we can feel as parents, but how so many other parents are feeling the same way too.
8 – Reshma Saujani: Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection
A great talk for parents of girls – challenging the way we approach our way of talking to our girls and how we encourage them in taking risks, rather than being ‘perfect’. It really makes you think socialising girls to be brave and the differences that can be made by closing the gender gap.
9 – Gever Tulley: 5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do
Do you think we protect our kids too much? We often think of the dangers that face our kids, but Gever challenges our thoughts on these based on the evidence that shows where the real dangers are, and how we can safely allow our kids to do the ‘dangerous’ things.
In all honesty, this is a short list, but one that I hope inspires you to keep listening, keep learning and keep asking questions about the world and about how we raise our children.
Great picks! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you 🙂
This is a great list!! That first one by Jennifer Senior was AMAZING!! 100% resonated with me! Thanks for sharing!!
Appreciate this list! I would also suggest Brené Brown. She’s a shame researcher who discusses the power of vulnerability, wholehearted living, etc.
Great list, thank you for sharing! I love Ted Talks. I would also recommend “Man Enough” by Justin Baldoni.
Just wanted to let other readers know..the name of the 5th recommendation is misspelled. It’s actually Adora Svitak. Happy listening!! 👂
Ah, thank you so much for pointing that out 🙂 Have gone and fixed it now. Such an amazing talk!
Thanks for this great list! May I also recommend Saving the Magic of Childhood by Patsie McCandless? She is the best-selling author of the novel Becoming Jesse, which also includes wonderful lessons for parents and children.
I’ll have to check that one out too! Thank you for the recommendation! 🙂