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Why Your Learning Habits Matter More Than You Think
International Women’s Day 2025: A Call to Accelerate Action
Every year on March 8, the world pauses to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD).
A day dedicated to recognizing the achievements of women and pushing for a more equal, empowered future.
The theme for IWD 2025 is "Accelerate Action"—a powerful call to move beyond conversations and take bold, meaningful steps toward progress.
But what does "Accelerate Action" really mean?
It’s about breaking cycles, driving change, and making intentional choices that shape the future.
It’s about stepping up—not just for us, but for those watching us.
And one of the most transformative ways to accelerate action?
Investing in personal growth.
When we commit to learning, evolving, and embracing challenges, we change our own lives.
And, more importantly, we create a ripple effect that touches our families, communities, and the next generation.
With this in mind, let’s dive into how prioritizing lifelong growth can build a thriving home, foster curiosity, and break the cycle of passive learning.
The Wake-Up Call
I’ve always believed in growth—self-improvement, pushing myself, evolving.
But having kids while juggling a demanding job?
It’s easy to put yourself on the back burner.
The daily grind, back-to-back responsibilities, and sheer exhaustion made personal growth feel like a luxury I couldn’t afford.
Then, as I became more intentional about conscious parenting, something clicked:
If I wanted to raise empowered, thriving children, I needed to thrive myself.
I had to build a structure around my own learning—not just for me, but for them.
Because my children weren’t just listening to what I said.
They were watching.
How I handled challenges.
Whether I embraced learning or avoided it.
How I navigated setbacks.
And that’s when it hit me:
The best way to raise curious, motivated children is to be a curious, motivated person.So I stopped making excuses. I started investing in my own growth.
And what happened next? It changed everything.
How a Growth-Oriented Parent Shapes a Child’s Mindset
Children Copy What You Do—Not What You Say
Studies confirm what we already know:
Children absorb the behaviors of their role models.
Albert Bandura’s social learning theory proves that children don’t just listen to us—they imitate us.
You can tell them to “never give up,” but if they see you quitting on your own goals? That lesson is lost.
If they watch you pick up a book, try a new skill, or embrace a challenge with excitement, that’s what they’ll believe learning looks like.
The Growth Mindset Starts at Home
Dr. Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset tells us that children who believe intelligence and skills can grow with effort perform better academically and socially.
Guess where they get that belief?
Yep. From us.
When we commit to lifelong learning, we create ripple effects that last generations.
Your Struggles Teach Them Resilience
Remember the last time you tried something new in front of your child?
Maybe you stumbled, got frustrated, but kept going.
That moment?
More powerful than a hundred pep talks about perseverance.
They see you struggle and push through.
And suddenly, failure isn’t something to fear.
It’s just part of learning.
How to Build a Learning Culture at Home
Learning Is More Than Just Academics
Forget rigid study sessions. The best learning happens through curiosity.
Do you ask questions about how things work?
Do you problem-solve in daily life?
Do you let your kids see you enjoy hobbies outside of work and parenting?
These small moments create a culture where learning isn’t a task—it’s a way of life.
Simple Ways to Model Continuous Learning
Read in front of them – Whether it’s a novel, self-improvement book, or an interesting article, let them see that knowledge is power.
Pick up a new hobby – Start something new—painting, coding, yoga, gardening—anything that excites you. Show them what it looks like to be a beginner.
Make learning a family ritual – Share something new you learned over dinner. Build curiosity into daily life.
Let them teach you something – Role reversal builds confidence and reinforces that learning never stops.
Make Learning Exciting, Not Forced
Create a “curiosity board” – A whiteboard where you all jot down random questions to research together.
Encourage exploration – Swap some screen time for books, puzzles, or DIY science experiments.
Celebrate curiosity – Instead of immediately answering their questions, say, “Let’s find out together.” When my daughter wanted to learn about the planets, we watched documentaries together.
Turn Learning into a Shared Journey
Learn Alongside Your Kids - Instead of just signing them up for classes, why not join in? I learn how to play the keyboard, tennis, swimming, and French classes with my kids. My excitement fueled theirs. This way, learning becomes a bonding experience instead of a chore.
Make Curiosity Contagious - If you love history, bring them to a museum.
If you love music, explore different genres together. If you’re into tech, experiment with coding. The more they see you light up about learning, the more they will too.
Fun Learning Activities for the Whole Family
Family Book Club – Pick a book (or two) that everyone can read (or listen to) and discuss over dinner or a cozy weekend chat.
Bonus: Act out scenes for fun!
Family Movie Night & Deep Dive – Choose a thought-provoking, family-friendly movie. After watching, research its background, historical events, or real-life inspiration. Discuss what you learned.
Family Game Night – Rotate between board games, trivia, or problem-solving challenges. Try puzzles, brain teasers, or even escape room-style games at home.
Storytelling Nights – Take turns making up stories, acting them out, or even creating a family storybook with illustrations!
Research & Explore – Choose a fun topic, from space to ancient civilizations, and go down the rabbit hole together. Google, watch documentaries, and share findings.
“Learn Something New” Challenge – Each family member picks a skill to try for a month—cooking, drawing, coding, or even juggling! Track progress and share wins.
The Biggest Lesson: You Don’t Need to Be Perfect—Just Growing
Our children don’t need perfect parents.
They need parents who make mistakes, try again, and keep learning.
When we prioritize learning, we create a world where curiosity, resilience, and ambition thrive.
And the best part?
It doesn’t have to feel like another thing on your to-do list.
It’s about making learning a part of your everyday life, in a way that energizes you, not exhausts you.Your Next Step: Take Action Today
International Women’s Day 2025 reminds us that change doesn’t happen by accident—it happens through action.
So, what’s one new thing you can learn this month?
And how can you share that journey with your child?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your ideas!
Thanks for this inspo! I especially love your ideas for families to put things in action! I'm going to try the challenge this month. I'd like to add the importance of modeling failure too. Do you admit mistakes? Do the hard work to address/ fix them? Hide them, be ashamed and play small? The littles are so smart and pick up on so much. I know I'm thinking about how to model both the strengths I want them to have, but also that it's OK to be imperfect and everything is addressable when they go sideways.
Great ideas for family activities here. We have a family movie night where we take turns to pick the movies - the kids are in their mid-twenties but we all still learn from each other's choice of movie and our reactions to it.