It’s clear the principles and compass of Wonder have given me the insight to see failures as growth, it’s given me the permission to sit back rather than step in, and it’s given me the confidence to trust the journey and to trust my children.

The truth is that Wonder transfers power from the adults in the studio to the learners. Our goal is for children to become independent lifelong learners who fully accept they are responsible decision-makers in their learning.

Our quest as parents is more about forming character than celebrating report cards. It’s failure – having the courage to risk being knocked down and getting back up again — that makes the hero, not excellence itself.

Parents tend to crave the kind of learning that feels familiar to them – especially when it comes to “science.” A recent conversation with a parent best describes why at Wonder, our science learning comes in the form of quests with real world problems to solve rather than textbooks and written tests.

Learning is hard and messy and happens at different paces within the same age range. There are plateaus – even pauses – in learning rather than steady progressions, and these times are difficult. So is resisting the temptation to compare your child to other children.