Resources for inspiring contemplation, creativity, compassion, mindfulness, deep-thinking, and awesomeness in young (and old) people.
Happy and AWE-some Holidays! Tall Trees is being reformated and redeveloped for the new year. In honor of the season, we're giving away the full e-book, Activities that Inspire Mindfulness, Contemplation, Creativity, Compassion, Deep-Thinking, and Awesomeness in Young People. We want to grow a community of parents, teachers, leaders, and thinkers who are devoted to... Continue Reading →
“We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -Thomas Edison Experts now say that teaching kids the value of hard work and determination is more important than building self-esteem, and the skill of perseverance is essential to a child's social emotional development. But how do we develop in our children,... Continue Reading →
This past summer, my family and I spent almost two months on the other side of Trump's proposed wall. We went to Mexico to learn Spanish, and, of course, relax a bit. The beaches were beautiful, the snorkeling amazing, the Mayan ruins breath-taking, and the Metzli Family Spanish School was a blast. But it was the stories we heard... Continue Reading →
I turned forty! You'd think I'd have some major revelations or deep thoughts to share. I don't. I’m just grateful to be in this life. I still feel like a kid most days, and I often wonder, who put me in charge of stuff? Who gave me a real job? Who let me out of the hospital... Continue Reading →
When it comes to my children, I fear the last time: the last time my daughter will ask me to play with her in the bath before she's too embarrassed, the last time my son will hold my hand on the way to school or sit on my lap after dinner (before he literally crushes... Continue Reading →
It’s going to be a rough morning. My heart is heavy because holiday break is over, and it’s freezing outside, and getting back into the routine of work and school is so hard, and I barely get up in time to blow my morning workout before I need to push my son out the door at seven... Continue Reading →
We call her The I Wanna Monster. This monster looks just like my sweet, lovable daughter, except she's growling with her arms crossed and her eyes glaring. Usually, she's screaming something that starts with, "I Wanna..." I wanna treat. I wanna watch another show. I wanna play for five more minutes. I wanna pogo stick and... Continue Reading →
My wife and I had the great experience of taking our friendly neighborhood folk band, The Falderals, on the road this year to celebrate the release of our new album Witness. And we brought our three kids along for the ride. Altogether, we traveled four thousand miles from Minnesota through Wisconsin and Ohio, all the way to the East Coast... Continue Reading →
When strong emotions overtake young children, we often think they've lost their minds. Well, they have. Brain science indicates that when the Amygdala—the so called animal brain or downstairs brain—is activated by strong emotions, the rest of the brain, the parts that do things normal humans should do, is less accessible; or in children, not accessible at... Continue Reading →
My son was losing it in the middle of the Super Target. He was whining for a new pair of shoes. When that wish was denied, he demanded a candy bar. And if that was not going to happen, he announced he was planning on watching TV for the rest of the day and I could... Continue Reading →
