The Foundation for a Meaningful Life
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
Ideas&Insights
Ideas&Insights Presents
Progress Over Perfect: Combat Perfectionistic Culture & Create Young Positive Risk-Takers with Dr. Robyn Silverman
Studies show that our kids are feeling more pressure to succeed and become more “flawlessly perfect,” “effortlessly accomplished,” and “notably high-achieving” than ever. This creates what Dr. Robyn calls “Failure Fallback,” where kids worry so much about failing that they either stop trying or “become so obsessed with grades and accolades that their mental health, body, or both fail instead.”
In this powerful presentation, Dr. Robyn unpacks how trusted adults can talk to kids about (1) combating perfectionistic culture, (2) embracing progress over perfection and (3) becoming positive risk-takers in various areas of their lives. With her signature storytelling, specific conversation starters, and tactical takeaways, Dr. Robyn will leave parents equipped to make meaningful changes that will positively impact their children for a lifetime.
Dr. Robyn Silverman is the host of the How to Talk to Kids about Anything podcast, with over 3 million downloads to date, where she, while interviewing her amazing guests, helps to simplify tough topics from ones on big feelings, failure, and friendship to those on death, divorce, diversity, sex, and money. Her national bestseller, also entitled How to Talk to Kids about Anything, takes parents and teachers through the whole spectrum of kids’ curious questions and provides straightforward, science-backed answers so that kids can get age-appropriate information straight from their trusted sources.
Dr. Robyn is also the founder and creator of Powerful Words Character Development, a worldwide character education program that helps educators and coaches inspire kids to become great citizens of their households, schools, teams, communities, and world. She provides scripts so that teachers and coaches can talk to kids about everything from courage and focus to kindness and mental-strength. An in-demand speaker and expert for media outlets such as Today Show, Good Morning America and the New York Times, Dr. Robyn lives in North Carolina with her husband, two children and rescue dog.
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Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 6
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Location
The event will take place at Fay's Primary School.
Parking
Please park in Harlow Circle, which can be accessed via Fay School's East Entrance. Click here for directions to the East Entrance, located at 23 Middle Road in Southborough, MA.
Who Can Attend
This event is free to attend and open to the public, but registration is required.
The event will only be offered in-person. A virtual program is not available and it will not be recorded.
Who Can Attend
This event is free to attend and open to the public, but registration is required.
The event will only be offered in-person. A virtual program is not available and it will not be recorded.
Questions? Contact Nicole Casey at 508-490-8204 or ncasey@fayschool.org.
Fay School's Ideas&Insights Speaker Series welcomes experts in education, child development, and parenting to share research, tools, and inspiration with parents and families.
Previous speakers:
Dr. Rebecca Winthrop: "Helping Kids Thrive in an Age of AI" (2026)
Dr. Maria Trozzi: "Developmentally Appropriate Disasters" (2026)
Dr. Rachel Kramer: "Setting Healthy Boundaries and Supporting Independence" (2025)
Brooklyn Raney: "One Trusted Adult" (2025)
Dr. Michele Borba: "Thrivers" (2024)
Phyllis Fagell: "Raising Middle Schoolers" (2024)
Dr. Devorah Heitner: "Growing Up in Public" (2023)
Dr. Rachel Kramer: "Building Resilience and Managing Big Emotions" (2023)
Dan Goods: "Seeing the Unseen" (2022)
Temple Grandin: "Calling All Minds" (2022)
David Epstein: "Range - Why Generalists Thrive in a Specialized World" (2019)
Dr. Madeline Levine: "Teach Your Children Well" (2019)
Dr. Richard Ginsburg: “Youth Sports Specialization: What Parents Need to Know” (2018)
Dr. Julie Lythcott-Haims: "How to Raise an Adult" (2018)
Ron Lieber: "The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money” (2017)
Dr. Rob Evans: "Raising Healthy Children in Challenging Times" (2017)
Previous speakers:
Dr. Rebecca Winthrop: "Helping Kids Thrive in an Age of AI" (2026)
Dr. Maria Trozzi: "Developmentally Appropriate Disasters" (2026)
Dr. Rachel Kramer: "Setting Healthy Boundaries and Supporting Independence" (2025)
Brooklyn Raney: "One Trusted Adult" (2025)
Dr. Michele Borba: "Thrivers" (2024)
Phyllis Fagell: "Raising Middle Schoolers" (2024)
Dr. Devorah Heitner: "Growing Up in Public" (2023)
Dr. Rachel Kramer: "Building Resilience and Managing Big Emotions" (2023)
Dan Goods: "Seeing the Unseen" (2022)
Temple Grandin: "Calling All Minds" (2022)
David Epstein: "Range - Why Generalists Thrive in a Specialized World" (2019)
Dr. Madeline Levine: "Teach Your Children Well" (2019)
Dr. Richard Ginsburg: “Youth Sports Specialization: What Parents Need to Know” (2018)
Dr. Julie Lythcott-Haims: "How to Raise an Adult" (2018)
Ron Lieber: "The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money” (2017)
Dr. Rob Evans: "Raising Healthy Children in Challenging Times" (2017)
Katie Greer: "How Do We Keep Our Kids Safe in This Technology-Driven World?" (2016 and 2023)
Dr. Michael Thompson: "How to Raise Responsible Children" (2015)
Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige: "Taking Back Childhood: Helping Children Thrive in Challenging Times" (2014)
Jessica Lahey: "The Gift of Failure" (2013)
Dr. Michael Thompson: "How to Raise Responsible Children" (2015)
Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige: "Taking Back Childhood: Helping Children Thrive in Challenging Times" (2014)
Jessica Lahey: "The Gift of Failure" (2013)
48 MAIN STREET
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201
