Megan Neale reflects on why she enjoys working with and investing in children.
After more than 30 years working with young people, I am still in awe of what they become. I’ve watched the quietest child blossom into a passionate advocate. I’ve seen struggling students grow into engineers, artists, and community leaders. Their journeys remind me that education isn’t about test scores or transcripts. It’s about planting seeds and trusting they’ll take root.
Since the pandemic, concern about teens and adolescents has reached a fever pitch. Anxiety and depression are rising among middle and high schoolers while attention spans are declining. To address these problems, states like California have recently introduced smartphone bans in schools. As an educator, I agree that phones have no place in the classroom. At the same time, I want to think beyond bans and restrictions. Let’s also ask: what do children need? How can we build stronger communities and more confident adolescents?
I believe the best way to prepare children to thrive in an increasingly digital world is through tactile and hands-on work in the real world. Why? Because confidence is built on competency. Building and creating gives children a sense of agency and self-reliance as they see the tangible results of their efforts come to life. It shows children that what they do affects the people around them.
Meaningful work can take many forms, from working in the community garden near home to fixing a bicycle. It can be creative—like learning to knit—or it can be practical, like chores at home. In fact, a long-term study at Harvard showed that children who do chores at home have higher self-esteem and a stronger work ethic as adults.