Grownups, help a younger person learn to cope with setbacks

Whether you have children or not, do something for a younger person this holiday season. Notice that the figures below, inviting you to step into being them for just a moment, are not just carrying physical gifts. They are wearing ice skates.

The big person probably knows how to skate on ice. The little person is learning: learning to lace their skates in preparation, learning to launch past fear, learning the thrill of flying across the ice. Learning to fall and get up again.

Teenagers who applied to college in the Early Decision round are grappling with strong emotions these days. Whether those emotions are positive or negative, adults can help by offering a stabilizing hand or simply listening. Help younger people by modeling the skills we learn by ice skating: balance and forward momentum.

A grownup and a child carry boxes of presents—but notice the lesson is in their ice skates.