CosmoKidz
CosmoKidz is one of the major longterm projects of the Institute aimed at fostering ways of developing caring and compassionate social behavior in children and teens. The research and development component of the project has resulted in an exciting new set of educational resources designed to help teachers, parents and youth mentors to foster constructive social and emotional development in children and teens.
The CosmoKidz activities fit in with the new move in educational thinking: a shift from training students for cleverness, competition and success to helping them become fulfilled individuals, whatever their talents, and active compassionate citizens.
The program consists of a series of conversational activities developed for different age groups—from children, to tweens and teens—based on something we call a cosmopolitan sensibility. It’s a different way of looking at how we relate with children and how we’d like them to relate with others. It also helps us focus on important things that most people don’t pay attention to that happens in our communicating with others.
CosmoKidz helps to cultivate:
- an appreciation of the importance of our interpersonal worlds and how we become who we are in relation with others
- the development of compassionate persons, sensitive to what is made in communicating and respecting diversity in its fullest sense
- the capacity to be curious, creative and self-reflexive
- understanding our obligation to others and the broader environment in which we live
- dialogic and deliberative skills as the means of making better social and civic worlds.
Latest news on CosmoKidz
CosmoKidz is growing up: Here comes CosmoTeenz
CosmoKidz is growing up: Here comes CosmoTeenz
Our Cosmo resources for children and youth continues to grow. We are now moving on to developing creative, relevant, fun and reflexive activities based on building awareness and capacity in relationships, and suited for various stages of being a teenager.
More exciting CosmoKidz developments
More exciting CosmoKidz developments
While CosmoKidz is growing up into CosmoTweenz and Teenz it is also continuing to expand its activities for younger children. We have a new set of activities under development on race, culture and identity and another grant to continue our longitudinal research on the impact of CosmoKidz
Cosmoteenz
Cosmoteenz
Are you in any way connected with teenagers (13-17)? Can you ask them to help us by completing a survey on communication issues important to them?
CosmoKidz in Romania: Small steps, large impact
CosmoKidz in Romania: Small steps, large impact
Iulia Georgescu and Carmen Greab have been working with teachers and students in Romania using CosmoKidz and have now translated the work into Romanian in order to make it even more accessible.
CosmoKidz in a Whole-of-School Trial
CosmoKidz in a Whole-of-School Trial
Independence Leadership Academy in Louisiana has whole-heartedly embraced the CosmoKidz ethos, implementing CosmoKidz and deliberation activities throughout the school from pre-kindergarten to 4th grade.
CosmoTweenz D’Club kids open their hands to help others
CosmoTweenz D’Club kids open their hands to help others
We are already starting to observe the positive impacts of using our latest educational resource kit for tweens. Read how tweens in the D’Club, an after-school deliberation club based on CosmoKidz and Tweenz practices, are putting their learning to good use by raising funds for others in need.
New CosmoTweenz resources
New CosmoTweenz resources
We have started developing our CosmoKIdz for Tweenz educational resources. The first activity set to be released is “Three choices…and then what happens”—a resource for helping 8-11 year-olds work through difficult social choices.
Developing cosmopolitan communication: The latest research on CosmoKidz
Developing cosmopolitan communication: The latest research on CosmoKidz
Our research into the effectiveness of CosmoKIdz activities for developing cosmopolitan communication skills in young school children continues. The latest findings further shore up the strong evidence-base in support of the program.
CosmoKidz stand in Louisianna
CosmoKidz stand in Louisianna
In April, Chipps Taylor and Nicole Wells, a 2nd grade teacher, spent the day at the Capital building in Louisiana to showcase CosmoKidz as part of the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund. The woman who made the last set of puppets also made the table cloth for us. Big smile!!!
Cosmokidz in Romania—a new and exciting experience
Cosmokidz in Romania—a new and exciting experience
CosmoKidz was first introduced in Romania in 2016. Carmen Gabriela Greab and Iuliana Gabriela Georgescu describe this new and exciting experience for them. They have been so inspired by the effect of CosmoKidz, they are now exploring ways of expanding the program.