Education is Hard. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Educators today have an almost impossible task: they need to prepare their students (and themselves) for rapid technological and societal change while budgets are being squeezed from multiple directions. As many as 65% of children entering primary school now will eventually work in jobs that do not exist today¹ where they will require skills and competencies that are poorly served by an education system built around knowledge regurgitation and ‘teaching-to-the-test’. 

I have previously talked about how we ought to rethink education with an eye on the future, boosting competencies such as creativity and critical thinking, and harnessing the power of technology. I’ve looked at what other countries do, to see what lessons we can learn from them.

Which countries are leading the way?

Several countries are implementing noteworthy initiatives to prepare the latest generation for the future. Here are a few examples: 

• Finland²: Renowned for its consistently high academic performance, Finland prioritises skills, knowledge, creativity and equality of opportunity. The Finnish model has minimal standardised testing, and educators have significant autonomy in designing lessons that adapt to student needs. There is also a great deal of focus on student well-being, mental health, and happiness alongside academic achievement. 
• Singapore³ Known for its emphasis on STEM education and strong academic performance, Singapore has invested significantly to integrate the latest technology into classrooms. Their curriculum emphasises developing well-rounded individuals with strong critical thinking, character development, and a robust work ethic. Secondary school students follow multiple pathways catering to their strengths and learning styles. 
• Estonia⁴: Estonia stands out for its tech-driven, student-centred approach. They prioritise digital literacy and personalised learning, with strong teacher training and continuous improvement based on data analysis. This equips students with the skills and adaptability to thrive in the digital age. The Estonian education system has successfully implemented measures that prevent social stratification by ensuring all students have equal access to education and technical resources. 

Other notable examples

Several other nations are making significant strides in shaping the future of education: 

• Japan: Integrating mindfulness and emotional intelligence into the curriculum, Japan fosters well-rounded individuals equipped to handle academic challenges and navigate social complexities. 
• Canada: Championing equity and inclusion, Canada prioritizes providing all students with equal access to quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. 
• Israel: Emphasising innovation and entrepreneurship, Israel encourages students to think creatively, solve problems, and develop their leadership skills.
• South Korea: Leading in STEM with a rigorous curriculum, strong work ethic, and top rankings in science and math, South Korea is creating a pipeline for technological innovation. However, the intense focus on academic achievement can lead to stress and anxiety among students.  

Key takeaways

The students of today need an education system that fosters adaptability, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. These are the key initiatives for countries aspiring to be educational leaders: 

• Prioritise Skills & Well-being: Move beyond rote memorisation by emphasising creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. Like Finland, invest in student well-being to create a holistic learning environment.
• Embrace Technology, Personalise Learning: Integrate technology effectively, like Estonia, fostering digital literacy and personalised learning pathways as in Singapore. 
• Invest in Teachers: Provide strong teacher training and professional development, ensuring high-quality instruction that adapts to student needs. 
• Promote Equity & Access: Like many of the countries mentioned, prioritise equal access to quality education for all students, regardless of background. 
• Embrace Innovation & Change: Continuously improve based on data, like Estonia, and encourage a culture of innovation and problem-solving, drawing inspiration from Israel. 

By implementing these initiatives, countries can create an education system that equips students to thrive in the rapidly changing world of the 21st century.

1. The future of Jobs: Employment, Skills and Workforce Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution | World Economic Forum  ︎
2. Finnish education system | Aalto University ︎
3. Overview of Singapore education system | Singapore Ministry of Education ︎
4. Estonian education system | Education Estonia ︎

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This year’s List to Santa included a request for “science projects” (hmmmm, I wonder where they got that idea from?) and the big day yielded, among others, this solar robot in kit form. The kit says quite clearly that it’s designed for kids aged 8 and above and mine are a little younger than that, so they needed a fair bit of help. However, it should be feasible for older kids with good concentration spans to complete these independently. 

But let’s face it, that wasn’t the point of building it! There’s a great opportunity here, as with lots of other STEAM-type toys and projects, to kick off some conversations about things like gears, electrical circuits and solar power. As we were figuring out how to assemble the robot, we talked about how the gears work together to make the robot move, how the circuit connects the solar panel to the motor, and how the solar panel converts sunlight into electrical energy. We even had a side conversation about electric cars and the environment and how solar power needs to be stored in batteries so we can have electricity when the Sun doesn’t shine.

So many pieces – let’s build!

The solar robot kit includes enough pieces to build 12 different types of robots that supposedly can move on land or water (we are yet to test this). It can feel a bit daunting after opening the box and seeing all 190 pieces (!) spread out alongside a fairly dense-looking instruction manual, but I’ve seen Lego kits that look just as complicated. One grumble I have is that the manual mentions a “diagonal or spruce cutter” that is needed to cut away the various parts for assembly, but this wasn’t mentioned anywhere else. Luckily, a sturdy pair of kitchen scissors did the trick.

You start by assembling a couple of common modules: the “body” which houses the motor and the gears, and the “head” which has the solar cell. To be totally honest, I did about 80% of the work, but there was more than enough to keep the kids interested and occupied. Besides “teaching moments” there were plenty of opportunities to get them to read the instructions carefully and to interpret the diagrams that show how the pieces are meant to fit together.

Your first big test comes after you’ve fitted the body and head together – it’s time to test that the solar cell actually works and can deliver enough power to make the gears move! The winter light we have at the moment is far too weak to power the robot, and we had a few moments wondering whether we had connected something incorrectly forcing us to disassemble the whole lot. Luckily, placing the cell near a bright lightbulb proved we’d done a good job; it just remains to be seen whether we’ll ever get enough sunlight to see our little robot in action.

Because the kit comes with enough pieces to build 12 different robot designs, this means that at any given time, your robot is only using a subset of the whole kit. Once thing I did appreciate was the inclusion of several labelled bags to keep the pieces you’re not using so you can find the ones you need easily again.

Was it worth it?

Well, you get what you pay for – this kit costs about £20 and the solar cell needs a very bright light to deliver enough power to the motor. We’ll see once summer gets here whether sunlight is enough but, for the Conflicted Family, it was a good investment of money and time. A lot of the fun was in following the instructions as a team and talking about some of the STEAM concepts that were sparked off (see what I did there?) during that process. I think the fact that you can convert it into 12 different robots will also help give it some longevity. 

I’d love to hear what you think if you decide to try it, or whether you have any suggestions for similar toys or projects that can be used to have those STEAM-related discussions with your kids.

This post contains an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate that means that, if you click on the link and end up purchasing the item, Conflicted Parent will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The post Teach STEAM Literacy by Building a Robot first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

Which parent hasn’t heard of STEM since it was coined back in 2001? Some of you may even be spending a small fortune on STEM workshops or classes covering everything from coding through science, robotics and even LEGO. And to be fair, it’s a good framework for equipping students with the skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

You may not, however, be as familiar with STEAM. If you Google STEM versus STEAM, you find many articles and a few heated Reddit posts on the pros and cons of each. But the Conflicted Parent doesn’t really think there is a discussion to be had. STEAM is simply a wonderful evolution of STEM which happened back in 2006 when Georgette Yakman, an education advocate, introduced the “A” for Arts to acknowledge the importance of creativity for success and mental health¹.

Remember those 21^st Century skills we covered in an earlier post? Creativity is one of the key competencies. Literacy in all the STEM subjects is important. However without creativity you’re missing that fundamental spark that separates the good from the great.

The well-known educator Sir Ken Robinson back in 2006 observed that the UK education system was stifling kid’s natural creativity. In his famous TED talk on the subject, he stressed the need to nurture imagination and original thinking, asserting that creativity should be regarded as equally vital as literacy.

However, this seems to have been ignored by both sides of the political divide as they have continued their relentless drive to standardised testing. Nearly 20 years on we are still seeing diminishing creativity and increasing mental health issues in our kids and teens. As parents, we can champion this cause by embracing STEAM. By encouraging our kids to explore the realms of science and technology while also nurturing their artistic sensibilities. 

It’s not easy though – I’m a STEM graduate with a creative kid. I find that I instinctively value the ‘measurable’ literacies more than the harder to assess competencies.  I also know that will be what the educational system will use to measure success. However, as Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up”. The UK educational system is too focused on literacies, and, as a parent, I need to help sustain my child’s creativity as they mature.  

And I’m confident that I’m doing the right thing. Nobel Prize winners, epitomising the pinnacle of achievement in their respective fields, often share a deep connection with creativity and the arts. Research indicates that Nobel laureates are more likely to engage in creative or musical pursuits than their counterparts², reinforcing the idea that an education that integrates the arts, cultivates minds capable of groundbreaking innovations. 

I’m embracing the ‘A’ in STEAM learning – How about you?

1. What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being?  |  World Health Organisation ︎
2. Beyond the Renaissance: Nobel Laureates and Their Creative Pursuits | Biomedical Odyssey (hopkinsmedicine.org) ︎

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We all know there are some foundational skills that our kids need to learn: maths and English. Or more properly, literacy and numeracy. Not a day goes by in school, especially in KS1 and KS2, that these two aren’t covered and they are essentially what is measured by the assessments (SATs) at the end of each key stage. 

In the Conflicted Parent’s Guide to 21st Century Skills, I wrote about the other basic literacies that our kids are going to need to be successful. One of these is digital (or ICT) literacy. I described it as “The ability to use digital technology, communication tools and/or networks to define, access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create and communicate information effectively and ethically.”

That’s a serious mouthful. What does it actually mean? 

I think of it this way: literacy skills empower us to decode written language, work out the layers of meaning in stories, and express ourselves with words. Numeracy unlocks the world of numbers, calculations, and logical thinking. Digital literacy does something similar to both of these, but in the digital, instead of the analogue world. It’s not just about knowing how to use different devices, but also about understanding the language and the norms in digital land. Digital literacy is essential for children (and adults) to navigate this world safely, to learn how to find and assess information, and how to use it productively and responsibly.

A toolbox for the digital world

What tools and skills do kids need to learn navigate the world online? The Conflicted Parent’s trademarked digital literacy curriculum isn’t (yet) ready, but broadly it breaks down like this: 

• Technical savvy: Knowing how to use devices like computers, tablets, and phones. It’s not just about swiping and clicking, but understanding basic operations, troubleshooting, and becoming comfortable with software programs they will likely encounter as they grow older. 
• Information literacy: This is like learning to read critically. Kids need to be able to evaluate online information, distinguish fact from fiction, and identify reliable sources. In an age of mass disinformation, this is more essential than ever 
• Communication skills: The digital world is all about connections. Children need to learn how to communicate effectively online, whether it’s through email, social media, or video conferencing. Each one of these has its own uses and unwritten rules of etiquette. 
• Problem-solving and creativity: Just like building with LEGO, the digital world offers endless possibilities. Children need the skills to solve technical problems, understand and work with computational tools, and create digital content. 
• Safety and security: Last, but most definitely not least, this is about staying safe online. The digital world can be a jungle, and just like teaching them to cross the street safely, we need to equip our kids with digital safety skills. This includes protecting their privacy, online hygiene, and understanding cyber threats. 

Why does this matter?

Here’s why I think digital literacy is an essential foundational skill, alongside literacy and numeracy, if we want our kids to be ready for the world of tomorrow: 

• Jobs of the future: Studies show that most future jobs will require some level of digital literacy¹. From marketing to healthcare, even construction, technology is woven into almost every career path. Without these skills, our children might be left behind.
• Lifelong learning: To survive and thrive in an ever-changing world, our kids need to be adaptable and constantly assessing and renewing their skillsets. Whether it’s researching information for a school project or upskilling for a new job, digital literacy opens doors to continuous learning².
• Global citizenship: The internet connects us like never before. Understanding different online cultures, respecting diverse viewpoints, and communicating effectively online are essential for being responsible global citizens³. I used to think this would happen naturally as people of different backgrounds started interacting, but it’s clear that the internet can be (mis)used as a tool for division as much as it can help bring us together. 
• Empowerment and independence: Just like reading empowers us to access information and express ourselves, digital literacy gives our children the tools⁴ to navigate the online world confidently and independently.

What you can do about it

If you’ve read this far, then you want to know what you can do, in practical terms, to help your kids to become digitally literate. First off, come to terms with the fact that this will probably be a learning experience for you. I think I’m digitally savvy but when I experience the online world through my kids’ eyes, I realise that there’s lots I don’t know and lots I’ve assumed everyone knows that need to be properly articulated. 

Part of that learning process has been to undertake a bunch of fun STEAM challenges with my kids, many of them online, from writing code to run in the International Space Station to designing a Lunar base using 3D software, all for free. Like Mary Poppins said, if you can find the fun, the job becomes a game. 

At this point in our journey, my kids are young enough that I have been easily able to set boundaries on their digital experience (limiting screen time or access to the internet), and I’ve not yet had to contend with the dreaded spectre of social media. So, I’m going to educate myself and share that with you, and I also invite you to share some of the things you’ve learnt in your own personal journeys.

1. Why ‘digital literacy’ is now a workplace non-negotiable – BBC Worklife ︎
2. Understanding and developing Digital Literacy | World of Better Learning, Cambridge University Press ︎
3. The Digital Literacy Imperative | Center for Strategic & International Studies ︎
4. Insights into young people’s literacy, critical digital literacy, online communication and wellbeing | National Literacy Trust ︎

The post What is Digital Literacy and Why Should You Care?  first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

Endless wonderful organisations fund or run school programs, provide free resources and set up and fund exciting STEAM challenges and competitions to inspire our children – but parents must know that those resources are out there – and, crucially, engage with them. 

Engaging is the tricky part as everyone is time poor, so the important points are that it should be child driven and minimum hassle for busy parents. We’re just trying to stretch our child’s interests, not create a whole new curriculum for us to teach! (Unless it’s AI – but that’s a discussion for a future post).

For example, the Conflicted Parent’s kid loves to paint. It’s their thing, and they’re always asking for drawing ideas. Now, instead of racking my brain for projects, we’ve stumbled upon these awesome STEAM challenges. It’s like a creative boost without the extra hassle. 

My child gets to dive into their art, and I get a breather because there’s already a theme in place. Plus, it’s not just about making art; it’s about making art that means something. The challenge ties everything together, weaving in some learning without them even realising it. 

And the best part? They’re not just working on a piece; they’re part of a whole community. They check out other artworks, get inspired, and even pick up a few tricks. Throw in some certificates, online gallery love, or the wild idea that their art might end up in space, and you’ve got a seriously exciting experience.  

As a bonus, my child is more likely to finish the project rather than abandoning it halfway through. It’s this whole journey that keeps them motivated, engaged, and proud of what they create. It’s like magic—creative, community-building magic. And give yourself a put on the back my parenting friend, you’ve just exposed your child to a whole bunch of those 21^st Century Skills right there! 

In future blogs the Conflicted Parent will put their money where their mouth is and share their experience of engaging with some of these initiatives. 

In the meantime, some of my favourites are listed below – try some and have fun:

• BioArtAttack 3D – Entries- (3D pieces of art using any combination of materials and media) can take inspiration from any part of the natural world or biological concepts.
• Science without Borders Challenge – This annual competition inspires students to be creative while promoting public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources.
• British Science Week poster competition – Posters on an annually changing STEM topic showing creativity in approach, while being clear, accurate and informative.
• The European Astro Pi Challenge: Mission Zero – Write a simple program to take a reading from a sensor on an Astro Pi computer on board the ISS, and use it to set the background colour in a personalised image for the astronauts to see as they go about their daily tasks 
• The Big Bang Competition – Create solutions to real world problems using STEM.
• TeenTech Awards – Innovation competition: brainstorm ideas, clearly identify an opportunity or a problem, suggest a solution and research the market. 
• BIEA Youth STEAM Competition – Annual STEM competition with teams of up to 5 kids aged 6-18.
• Young Minds Prize – Essay competition designed to provide students with an opportunity to engage in debate and hone their writing skills.
• Moon Camp Challenge – Education project using innovative learning technologies to challenge students to design their own Moon settlement with a 3D modelling tool.
• Mission X – Train like an Astronaut – Free educational and inspirational project that challenges students to train like an astronaut through physical exercises and scientific investigations, helping them learn the key elements to keeping fit and staying healthy in space and on Earth.
• UK CanSat Competition – Students are tasked with designing and building their own simulation of a real satellite, integrated within the volume and shape of a soft drink can.
• Space Gallery Competition – Every month ESA Kids is looking at a different theme in more detail. Themes include everything from orbits and planets to astronauts and asteroids.

The post Unleashing Creativity: Exciting STEAM Challenges To Inspire The Family first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

If, like the Conflicted Parent, you want to help your child learn at home but are not quite sure how to start then you’ll want to experiment with the free stuff first. The Conflicted Parent’s Top 5 eLearning Resources are established organisations with great quality teaching resources all aligned to the UK national curriculum. They all cover a range of subjects and levels and are designed to make learning fun and engaging.

• Twinkl is a website that provides over 600,000 educational resources for teachers, parents, and children. It covers all subjects and stages, from Early Years to GCSE. The lovely Twinkl is worth checking out for free high-quality resources – as well as optional premium resources for a reasonable subscription. The Conflicted Parent is not affiliated with Twinkl in any way, but it is our go-to destination for everything from printable worksheets to interactive games. The only criticism (and it hurts me to criticise Twinkl) is that there are so many materials that sometimes it’s hard to find what I am looking for. Twinkl – Perhaps you need an AI to help your users to search for exactly what they need?  
• Oak National Academy is an online classroom that provides high-quality video lessons and resources for pupils from Reception to Year 11. It covers all the core subjects as well as some specialist subjects such as Art, Music, and Languages. It also provides support for pupils with additional needs.  Aimed primarily at teachers but with a wealth of resources for parents to easily use to supplement their children’s education, aligned and regularly updated to the national curriculum. As with many things in education (or indeed the world at large), it is not without controversy. However, The Conflicted Parent is not partisan – Oak’s wonderful video resources have been invaluable in supporting and reinforcing KS1 Maths skills in the Conflicted Parent household. 
• National Literacy Trust is an amazingly creative charity that aims to improve literacy skills and outcomes for children and young people. It offers a wide range of free resources for parents and teachers, such as reading and writing activities, book lists, podcasts, live events and competitions.  
• STEM Learning provides resources and support for teaching and learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). It offers curriculum-linked activities, experiments, videos, and games for primary and secondary pupils. It also provides online courses and webinars for teachers and parents.  
• BBC Bitesize  No introduction needed – who doesn’t love Auntie Beeb? You can find videos, quizzes, games, podcasts and activities on maths, English, science, history, geography and more. BBC bitesize is aligned to the national curriculum and follows a structured learning path.  

Dive in and see what you can find – and don’t forget to let the Conflicted Parent know your thoughts and your personal favourites!

The post Top 5 Free eLearning Picks to Inspire Home Learning first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

Over the last 10 years or so, there has been a wave of innovative educators trying to turn the traditional school model on its head, developing 21^st Century skills in learners. Whether it’s AltSchool’s personalised learning journey in the US (spoiler alert – it was sadly doomed to failure)¹, Quest to Learn’s game-based school in New York, School 21 in East London, or the sustainability-driven ethos of the Green School in Bali, these pioneers have been trailblazers envisioning a future where learning knows no bounds. Even if it hasn’t always gone according to plan!  

Microschools are another interesting new trend that gained momentum during and post COVID². Microschools are small learning environments for 5-25 students of mixed ages and grades. They use different teaching and learning models, such as personalised, project-based, or online learning, and can run in various settings, such as homes, churches, or offices. These small-scale educational institutions boost student-teacher bonds, cater to student interests and needs, and create a sense of community. All of which are fantastic enablers for building the skills our children need for the future.But they also face issues like regulations, access, equity, and quality. The Conflicted Parent isn’t convinced yet, but microschools are a hopeful trend in education, blending personalisation, connection, and innovation – especially for students who learn differently. 

All the institutions above deserve a round of applause for their brilliant ideas and valiant attempts. However, perhaps more practical for most parents are those equally innovative educators supporting on-going learning to allow us to enrich our children’s school experience. You can find the Conflicted Parent’s Top 5 favourite (free) eLearning crushes here!

Additionally, endless wonderful organisations fund or run school programs, provide free resources and set up and fund global challenges and competitions to inspire our children – but parents must know that those resources are out there – and, crucially, engage with them. To help you get started, the Conflicted Parent has put together a list of currently open challenges.

I’m not suggesting you enter to crush the competition – that wouldn’t be very 21^st Century would it? Enter for fun to see where it takes you! Maybe swap ‘Family Friday Movie Night’ for ‘Family Friday Creativity Night’? Dust off the little grey cells and get painting, coding, building, photographing, movie making, debating and problem solving like no-one’s watching!

The Conflicted Parent is committed to walking their own talk and you can find my experience of engaging with some of these initiatives on this blog.

1. What can we learn from an experimental high tech charter wunderschool failure | Forbes (paywall) ︎
2. New research reveals the breadth and impact of the microschooling movement | Forbes (paywall) ︎

The post Innovative Educators For The Digital World first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

What are 21^st Century skills?

Many organisations and thought leaders have tried to list what they think are the important skills for the 21^st century. But when you look closely, they’re all talking about the same things: thinking critically, being creative, communicating well, solving problems, working with others, and being able to use and manage information. For the purposes of this blog, the Conflicted Parent is going to use the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) list of 16 critical skills that I mentioned in this post.

The WEF splits these skills into 3 areas: foundational literacies, competencies, and character qualities. 

Foundational Literacies

The basic skills and knowledge you need to understand and engage with the world effectively, like reading and writing

• Literacy: The ability to read, write, speak, and listen in a way that allows us to communicate effectively and make sense of the world. 
• Numeracy: The ability to understand and work with numbers. 
• Scientific Literacy: The ability to understand and use scientific concepts and processes to make informed decisions about the world around us. 
• ICT literacy: The ability to use digital technology, communication tools and/or networks to define, access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create and communicate information effectively and ethically. 
• Financial literacy: The ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills including personal financial management, budgeting and investing. 
• Cultural and Civic Literacy: The ability to understand different cultures and perspective and participate effectively in civic life. 

Competencies

How you approach and handle a specific situation to achieve success 

• Critical thinking: The ability to analyse information, evaluate arguments, and make decisions based on evidence. 
• Creativity: The ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems. 
• Communication: The ability to express oneself clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. 
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. 

Character Qualities

Personal traits and behaviours that shape how you interact with others and approach situations 

• Curiosity: The desire to learn and explore new things. 
• Initiative: The ability to act and make things happen. 
• Persistence: The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks. 
• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new situations and changing circumstances. 
• Leadership: The ability to inspire and guide others towards a common goal. 
• Social and cultural awareness: The ability to understand and appreciate different cultures and perspectives. 

To succeed, we don’t have to be experts in everything, but we do need a balance of foundational literacy, competencies, and character qualities. It’s the mix of these three that really makes the difference. 

How do these skills get applied in the real world?

Let’s illustrate this with some real-world examples: 

Sir David Attenborough has been exploring and documenting the natural world for over 60 years. Grounded in geology and zoology, which he studied at Cambridge, he has leveraged his scientific literacy to produce and present documentaries on natural history and environmental issues, where he uses his excellent communication and critical thinking competencies to explain complex scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible way. Among his character qualities is obviously curiosity: he has never ceased to be fascinated by learning new things that he can then tell us about. What may be less known are his leadership abilities. As controller of BBC2 in the channel’s infancy, he set the standard for “authored documentaries” and was responsible for commissioning programmes as varied as Match of the Day, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The Money Programme. 

You (and your children) may know Emma Watson primarily from her work on the Harry Potter movies, but she has also exhibited her literacy and cultural and civil literacy skills as an author of books and speeches on gender equality and women’s rights. She needed her communication competency to deliver those speeches at the United Nations and in many interviews. Emma Watson’s character qualities such as initiative and leadership drove her to create the HeForShe movement to promote gender equality. 

Martin Lewis, founder of the MoneySavingExpert.com website has been promoting financial literacy and consumer rights for over 20 years, demonstrating not only his own financial literacy skills but also a healthy set of competencies and qualities including initiative, communication, collaboration and leadership. He explains complex financial concepts in an engaging and accessible way, and founded the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, which aims to improve the lives of people with mental health problems by promoting financial education and support. 

Success, for these British luminaries, as well as our children, requires a combination of all three areas – foundational literacy, competencies, and character qualities. This is what they need to thrive in an uncertain, complex, and frankly, tough world. 

Convinced? Great, you’re in good company. Globally, there’s a consensus, from UNESCO to the WEF, EU, and the UK government, that new learning approaches are needed to address challenges. However, there’s a problem: ‘there is currently little or no substantial evidence available on the most effective tools and approaches to deliver those skills’.¹

In the meantime, our education systems maintain the status quo – focusing on foundational competencies and standardised assessments. That’s not the right answer for today’s parents who must try to supplement the gaps. 

But here’s where parents can make a difference. In the absence of a globally agreed map, many innovative educators are simply taking action, and you can too! 

Join me on my journey to enrich my children’s education through meaningful family experiences, to prepare them for a future we’re only beginning to understand.

1. 21st Century Skills | Institute of Development Studies ︎

The post A Parent’s Guide to 21st Century Skills first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

We’re experiencing a profound shift as technology, society, and the environment transform the way we live, work, and learn. Literacy in the digital world is a hot topic. Businesses tell us that our school leavers are missing critical competencies and skills for the future, and that they are not being taught in schools. So, what can we do about it?

In this post, I explore how and why I think the system needs to change and the role parents can play in the face of an educational system that is slow to respond.

The Evolving Educational Landscape

Every day, there are more and more globally emerging trends that our children must grapple with. 

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are throwing both opportunities and challenges at us, especially when it comes to human creativity, problem-solving, and working together.
• The digital revolution and globalisation are making the whole world a classroom with everything going online. Learning resources and opportunities are everywhere, making education more accessible and diverse. 
• The world is getting more complex and unpredictable. Learners need to be quick on their feet, ready to handle rapid changes and navigate through uncertainty and risk.
• Lastly, there are big issues like climate change, inequality, and human rights. Learners need to understand the world. Empathy, responsibility, and civic engagement are also for kids, not just for grown-ups.

These trends are challenging the traditional UK education system, the system that’s all about standardised assessments and putting heavy emphasis on memorisation, repeating facts, and individual performance. What’s even worse is that these assessment methods seem to promote a ‘me-first’ mentality: chasing attention, competition, and a need to be first. What’s more, research suggests that this can lead to bullying and exclusion for those at both the top and the bottom of the academic ladder¹.

Kids’ Literacy in the Digital World

Business leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) have defined the critical skills needed to succeed in the 21^st Century² – and, bad luck parents, our current system is not geared up to equip young learners with the competencies they need to succeed.

Trust me, this isn’t as complicated as it looks. I explain it further here.

You don’t even need to take the WEF’s word for it. In the UK, our own teachers and educational leaders are raising their voices in alarm stating loudly and clearly that ‘the current education system is too focused on qualifications at the expense of broader aims, and thereby is falling significantly short in preparing young people to thrive in the 21^st century.’³

Rethinking Education

To prepare our kids for the future, we need to rethink the education system, shifting away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more personalised one. There are some key ingredients that educators believe are required to make the shift:

• Learner-Centred: Children’s interests and needs should be the map in their learning journey.
• Tech-Enabled: Learners should embrace the digital age, and be provided with a network of resources and opportunities through technology advancements. More on this in future posts!
• Project-Based: Students should be engaged in real-world projects that make a difference and unleash their creativity rather than be pumped with knowledge.
• Competency-Driven: Skills should be assessed – not kids’ ability to memorise information.

Many schools are introducing some of these ingredients, and there are some interesting educational trailblazers from which to take inspiration. Unfortunately though, changing an entire system is neither easy nor cheap.The bottom line is ‘Education is Hard’!

The Role of Parents

With the squeeze on public spending, the struggle to recruit teachers, the increasing cost of private schooling and the glacial pace of educational change, parents must step up. We cannot afford to be spectators in our children’s education. We have to support them by being:

• Lifelong Learners: Stay curious, update your skills, and explore new perspectives.
• Mentors and Coaches: Guide them and support their passions.
• Advocates and Changemakers: Work with teachers, volunteer at schools, become a school governor or trustee, engage with educational organisations.

It might sound like an impossible task, but as parents in this brave new world we have little option if we don’t want ourselves and our children to be left behind by the digital wave. And hey, we can try to have a bit of fun in the process!

1. Backing the ‘bullies’: why bullying is endemic in schools and what needs to change | Birmingham City University School of Education and Social Work ︎
2. 21st Century Skills | World Economic Forum ︎
3. HMC survey finds curriculum and assessment is no longer fit for purpose | HMC ︎

The post Kids’ Literacy in the Digital World first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

Ever find yourself surrounded by the chaos of kids’ shrieks, clattering pots and pans, and the hum of a laptop battling the demands of work and parenting at 5 pm on a weekday evening?

Welcome to my world, the kitchen table, doubling up as the Conflicted Family’s homework command centre. The kids are wrestling with the mysteries of addition and subtraction, shortly followed by reading the assigned books before tomorrow’s deadline, guitar practice and a chat about Edward Jenner (the science focus for this term), whose historical experiments on his gardener’s son provoke horrified reactions from my offspring.

Meanwhile, I find myself in the role of unofficial tutor, suppressing the urge to hide in the bathroom while Googling for a real tutor and checking out the cost of the nearby independent prep school with wraparound homework classes.

We all fall victim to the “peer pressure parenting” game, squeezing in extra classes, sacrifices galore, just to “keep up.” But sometimes I wonder – why are we playing? Deep down, I think kids should be running wild in the forest until at least the ripe old age of eight. At the same time, I break out in a cold sweat if my little one doesn’t crush their weekly spelling test.

As I laugh at my own contradiction, a sobering thought pops up: am I feeding the academic monster that I don’t even truly believe in? And, worse, is it even the right thing to do for my kids?

Between fractions, phonics and the ethical dilemmas of long-gone scientists, I wonder if any of this is really preparing my kids for the world hurtling towards us at warp speed? AI, entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, digital literacy, creativity and critical thinking – the buzzwords of the future. Yet, our current educational systems seem to have missed the memo. Research suggests that future jobs need skills that are often overlooked in traditional education in the UK. Are our kids being left behind?

I love my kid’s teachers but I’m sceptical about the education system as a whole. I know that creativity and innovation are critical skills for my children but I still drill them on maths and English because I know that’s how they will be tested. I limit their screentime even though the future is digital. I’m the Conflicted Parent, caught between my ideals, the reality of today’s educational landscape, and the uncertainty of the future. And guess what? I know I’m not alone!

The post Welcome To My Conflicted World! first appeared on Conflicted Parent.