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Peninsula Kids
Home»Parenting Articles»This is the greatest time to be… anything
Parenting Articles

This is the greatest time to be… anything

Updated:July 14, 20214 Mins Read
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By Chris Helder

Since the dawn of time, the older generation has loved to take shots at the younger. It’s nothing new — it’s always been like that. For those readers with a few grey hairs, how often have you heard these complaints: ‘I can’t believe these kids today. Constantly staring at their iPhones and computer games. When I was young, we had a real childhood. We were active, outside kids. We took off on our bikes, or with a bat and ball, and we ran around till Mum called us in for dinner. We lived outside.’

Have you ever been a part of that conversation? Every now and then people ask me what I think about ‘kids today’. Well, I have three teenage boys so I guess I’m qualified to offer an answer …

Hmm … let me see. Let’s try this. I think this is the greatest time in the history of the world to be a kid. I think it is the most fantastic time in history to be a dad, a parent. What do you think? Do you think that’s true?

I have no idea if it’s true or not. Really, how could we possibly know? So, maybe it’s true. But is it useful? Definitely! ‘Truth’ can sometimes be overrated. I mean, it really comes down to your perception.

If you choose to believe that something is true, you can find plenty of evidence to support it. As a child you were taught all sorts of things were true. As you got older and looked back at those things with the benefit of an adult brain, you discovered that not only were many of them not true, but some were quite ridiculous.

So I don’t know if it’s necessarily true that this is the most fantastic time to be alive, but I know it’s useful to think so. Because when I believe it is the best time in the history of the world to be a dad, the most amazing thing happens: I’m a better dad. I’m actually dialled into what is happening this year, not focused on that Def Leppard concert I went to in 1989. I’m right here, right now.

The same holds true of my view of the world today. Is it the best time ever to be alive? Is that true? The media certainly suggests it’s not. But here’s the thing: if you believe it is, an amazing thing happens. You walk outside and what do you see? You see a tree, a flower, a puppy, a baby! You find beautiful things everywhere.

But how does this work? Let’s stop for a second and look at the simple science behind useful belief.

The most important part of your brain when it comes to your personal success in life is called the reticular activating system. What’s that? The reticular activating system is your brain’s filter. It filters the millions of pieces of information available to you every day and decides what you actually get to see and experience.

We can come up with an easier way to see what it does. Some call it the ‘Red Toyota Theory’.

Here’s how it works. If I asked you how many red Toyotas you saw the last time you took a drive, you’d probably reply that as far as you can recall you didn’t see any. That’s at least partly because you weren’t looking for red Toyotas. If you’ve just made the decision to buy a red Toyota, however, then the next time you’re out on the road you’ll be spotting red Toyotas everywhere you look.

Because now you’re dialled in to red Toyotas. That’s your reticular activating system at work.

So how does this relate to our view of the world? Let’s get back to our useful belief that this is the best time in the history of the world to be alive. If you believe this you’ll find beautiful things everywhere. If you believe it is the best time ever to be a parent, you will be more present, in the here and now, and be a better parent, excited about the events and happenings in your child’s world.


Edited extract from The Simple Shift by best-selling author Chris Helder (Wiley $19.95), now available at all good bookstores and online.

www.chrishelder.com

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2020

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👀😮 Ooooh..this looks gooooood. Has anyone read the book? Betrayal and revenge come knocking on The Family Next Door this August! The ABC, Screen Australia and VicScreen are pleased to announce the thrilling six-part suburban mystery drama series The Family Next Door will premiere on Sunday 10 August at 8pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview. It’s peak holiday season in the popular seaside town of Osprey Point when an enigmatic stranger, Isabelle (Palmer) rents a family home in a quiet cul-de-sac. As Isabelle charms her way into her neighbours’ homes and lives, she quickly discovers that everyone at Pleasant Court has something to hide. How far will her obsessive drive to solve a mystery push her to expose the truth? Based on New York Times bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth’s novel of the same name, this sophisticated and entertaining mystery blends drama and humour while exploring family dynamics through the unique lens of award-winning screenwriter Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown) and Emma Freeman’s (The Newsreader, Interview with the Vampire) character-driven directorial skills. #abciview #sallyhepworth #thefamilynextdoor
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Bring the kids to experience live theatre at Frankston Arts Centre in August! An instant Australian classic, Beetle by Legs On The Wall tells the story of a child who finds a friend in her backyard; together they embark on an adventure to search for his family, the now elusive Christmas Beetle. The magic of the bush habitat is brought to life through Legs On The Wall’s trademark physical storytelling, and animation created from original artworks by beloved children’s author and illustrator Freya Blackwood. A tale of resilience and hope, Beetle reminds young audiences that there’s an important place in the world for all of us. Reminding us of the delicate balance of the natural world and that all things are connected. This charming, nostalgic and uniquely Australian show invites children and families to join the adventure, encountering larger than life beetles, stick insects, and other bush critters while finding out about the uncanny nature and delicate balance of the bush environment. See it on Friday 22 August at 11am or 6pm at Frankston Arts Centre. Tickets are available at thefac.com.au or by calling 03 9784 1060. #whatson #fac #kidstheatre #frankstonartscentre #beetlebylegsonthewall @the_fac
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