Paul Schaffenberger

Social growth doesn’t usually look big or flashy. It shows up in quieter moments you might almost miss. Maybe your child: • paused before jumping in • stayed close to other kids longer than usual • tried a new phrase (even once) • handled frustration a little better than last time • needed support — and accepted it Those moments count. They matter. Share one thing that felt like a step forward this week 👇 💛

New comment Feb 11

Paul Schaffenberger

1 like • Feb 7

I’ve noticed my daughter becoming increasingly comfortable talking to our neighborhood store owners. She routinely gets to go behind the counter to pet the bodega cat, she asks the barista for a croissant by herself, she says hi to the cashiers at the grocery store. The other day she felt sociable and just waved and said hi to random strangers on the street 😂 It’s strange coming from a non urban environment and realizing my daughter is growing and adapting to city life without missing a beat. It’s literally all she knows. Kinda crazy.

Paul Schaffenberger

0 likes • Feb 11

@Mzisa Duffy, M. Ed. Sorry I missed this! She is 6! Our local park is her yard. The city blocks are her neighborhood. I grew up yearning for this kind of urban lifestyle and I'm now raising my daughter in it. Some things are great, other things aren't my favorite. I'd love to be able to split our time between the city and somewhere more rural.

Mzisa Duffy, M. Ed.

Feb 4 •

February: Friendship Skills

Joining Play: Pick the script your child will actually use

Kids do best with one short phrase they can repeat, not a long explanation. Here are two solid options — both work, but different kids need different styles. Option A 🗣️ “Can I have a turn when you’re done?” ✔️ Best for: shy kids, kids who interrupt, kids who need structure Option B 🗣️ “That looks fun — how do you play?” ✔️ Best for: kids who want to connect but don’t know how If they get ignored: - “I’m going to watch for a sec—tell me when I can join.” - “What role can I be?” Question: Which one sounds more like your child right now — A or B? Drop the letter and their age, and tell me where they’re practicing (playground, school, or playdates).

New comment Feb 11

Paul Schaffenberger

1 like • Feb 5

Beautiful! I really like thinking about this and the options are both genuinely fascinating to me. For my daughter, I'm leaning towards A, but I can see B coming into use when she's in her element.

Paul Schaffenberger

1 like • Feb 11

@Mzisa Duffy, M. Ed. Of course. Youre sharing some vital and powerful tools.

Mzisa Duffy, M. Ed.

Sep '25 •

✅ Polls

💡 Which social skill do you think kids need the most practice with right now?

👉 Cast your vote and share your thoughts!

Poll

11 members have voted

New comment Feb 1

Paul Schaffenberger

1 like • Feb 1

Listening is in a different universe nowadays. There are so many things influencing how kids interact with the real world, but I believe the dopamine from modern technology is literally evolving them. I know the immediate connotation is that is bad, and there certainly are things about it that are. But I also believe it can be harnessed. We can't just turn it off. We must consciously engage with it and prepare our children to be as grounded in humanity as possible.

Paul Schaffenberger

1 like • Feb 1

@Mzisa Duffy, M. Ed. Yes please! That would be super cool. I'm happy to learn and devour any info I can like that!