Education and Child Development

When we talk about the cost of childcare, there’s often an assumption that mom will leave the workforce if her salary doesn’t cover it. It’s treated like a short-term solution—a temporary pause to save money during the early years. But the reality? It’s anything but short-term. When women leave the workforce, they don’t just lose a paycheck. They lose Social Security contributions, retirement savings, career growth, and long-term earning potential. They risk falling behind in their field, missing out on promotions, and struggling to re-enter the workforce later—often at lower pay or in positions beneath their qualifications. This isn’t just an individual issue. It’s systemic. Women already face the motherhood penalty—earning less and being seen as less committed once they have kids. And when they step away entirely, the financial impact compounds. Research shows women hold fewer retirement assets and are more likely to face poverty in old age than men. So no, leaving the workforce to save on childcare isn’t a short-term fix. It’s a decision with lifelong consequences. That’s why we need to stop framing childcare costs as a personal problem for moms to solve and start treating it like the shared family and societal issue it is. Because when we assume moms will just “pause” their careers, we’re setting women back—and setting families up for long-term financial insecurity. Let’s rethink the way we approach this conversation. Affordable childcare isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a necessity for gender equity and economic stability. What do you think? Have you experienced or witnessed the long-term effects of taking time out of the workforce for childcare? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #affordablechildcare #workingmom

Sustainability lessons I wish they taught in schools. After two decades in sustainability, I have learned some insights that I think should be fundamental education for every young person. Here's what I wish someone had told me back in school: 1. Climate is not just about polar bears. It is about human impact and resilience, and global security. Every career will be impacted by climate change. 2. Your individual choices matter, but systemic change drives real impact. Learn to influence systems, not just personal habits. 3. The circular economy is not a buzzword. It is our economic future. Understanding how to design out waste and regenerate resources is important. 4. Sustainability is not a cost center. It is a strategic opportunity for innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. 5. Carbon accounting is the new financial literacy. Know how to measure, manage, and mitigate organisational emissions. 6. Biodiversity is not separate from human prosperity. It is the foundation of human civilisation. 7. Nature is the most sophisticated engineer. Biomimicry is not just cool, it is a design approach. 8. Water is the next oil. Understanding clean water scarcity and conservation will be crucial. 9. Your digital footprint has a carbon footprint. Data centers consume massive energy. 10. Local food systems are resilience strategies, not just trendy movements. 11. Innovation happens at the intersection of disciplines. Sustainability requires radical collaboration. 12. Hope is an active verb. Pessimism is a luxury we can't afford. Every challenge is an opportunity to act. 13. Sustainability is not a career. It is a lens for understanding our complex, interconnected world. What lesson would you add? Share it below.

"How do we advise our children so they can be economically viable as individuals" in a more AI-driven world? 🤔 I was asked this question recently, and it resonated with me strongly. I'm in a state of inner conflict with AI. It's making my life better, but I also know that the future our children are walking into has changed forever! 👉🏽The old rule book: get good grades, go to uni, get a job, work up the ladder, and hope for the best won't be the same. Here are 7 skills we're teaching our children to help them become AI-resilient: 1. BUILD, DON'T JUST CONSUME ◼️Mindset: “I can create something valuable” Let them create: Roblox games, Mini Shopify stores, Canva-designed planners, CapCut shorts, etc Discuss over dinner: "What are we building?" 😀 In a world of consumers, creators will always be rewarded. 2. BECOME FINANCIALLY FLUENT ◼️Mindset: “I make money work for me” Help them adopt the right habits & show them how money flows: Earning → Saving → Investing → Compounding → Tax ✅Open a Junior Stocks & Shares ISA & Junior Pension. Teach them to invest early. In a disrupted job market, financial independence won’t be optional; it’ll be essential. 3. AI LITERACY WITHOUT FEAR ◼️Mindset: “I use AI as my partner, not competitor” Teach them to prompt, not plagiarise. They’ll be ahead of peers who fear or ignore AI. 4. CRITICAL THINKING & DEEP FOCUS ◼️Mindset: “I don’t follow the crowd. I think for myself” Encourage long-form reading and journaling. Reward depth over speed. Discuss real-world problems over dinner. 5. STORYTELLING, COMMUNICATION & INFLUENCE ◼️Mindset: “I can shape the world with my words” Let them: Present on camera, share ideas on slides, write emails, captions, mini scripts AI can write, but humans will lead, move hearts & influence others through our stories. 6. ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING AS DEFAULT ◼️Mindset: “I find and solve problems. I create value. I get rewarded” Let them shadow your work, business or side hustle. Encourage them to pitch you 1 or 2 money-making ideas. Pay for them to use tools like: Gumroad, Canva, Notion, Shopify, Replit, etc 👉🏽The future belongs to those who use their creativity to create opportunity, not just get jobs. 7. IDENTITY, VALUES, COMMUNITY & LEGACY THINKING ◼️Mindset: “I know who I am, and what I stand for” Talk about faith, ethics, community and purpose. On faith, help them to build a relationship with God. Discuss ethics using real-world examples. 👉🏽Teach them that community, human connection and love will help them have a fulfilling life Embrace your heritage ✊🏽 Ask: “What kind of person do you want to become?” Teach them that wealth isn’t just about having. It’s about becoming. 👉🏽When identity is clear, AI becomes a tool, not a master 😀 Which skills will you teach your children for the future? Comment ⬇️ 🟢 Follow ♻️ Share #ai #parenting #aijobs #financialliteracy #financialfreedom #financialindependence #money #finances

South Africa’s youth unemployment rate (Q1 2025) stands at a staggering 62.4% – by far the highest among major economies. Compare this to India (15%), the UK (12.2%), or Japan (3.9%), and the scale of our challenge becomes clear. But the problem isn’t just a “𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬.” 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dNJiTS4A Research shows it’s a 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 and 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 crisis: 📌 Habiyaremye (2022) demonstrates that soft skills like problem-solving, networking, and leadership have a greater impact on employability than technical training alone. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/de4eTA_Q 📌 Morsy & Mukasa (2019) highlight widespread skills mismatches, where graduates are overeducated but underskilled for real market needs. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dr--Mpzg 📌 Öhlmann (2022) and de Jongh et al. (2024) show how race, geography, and lack of social capital leave millions of young South Africans locked out of opportunity. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dVxPu7Vu 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dzYnWmTR 📌 Ebrahim (2025) finds that employer incentives (e.g., payroll tax credits) can nudge companies to hire youth. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dmhyEDbp 👉 What does this mean for South Africa’s tertiary education strategy? We must shift from a supply-driven model (producing graduates) to a demand-driven model (producing employable, adaptable talent). That requires: ✅ Embedding work-integrated learning and apprenticeships into every qualification. ✅ Aligning curricula to growth sectors like ICT, advanced manufacturing & green economy. ✅ Elevating TVETs and dual education systems to equal status with universities. ✅ Incentivising entrepreneurship and linking graduates to procurement ecosystems. ✅ Building digital platforms that connect students directly to employers. South Africa’s universities, TVETs, government, and industry must come together to co-create pathways that bridge learning and work. Visual credit: Trade Brains https://lnkd.in/dBQ-8unJ #SouthAfrica #YouthUnemployment #HigherEducation #SkillsDevelopment #TVET #FutureOfWork #PolicyReform #InclusiveGrowth

Did you know that 756,384 working-age adults in Illinois currently lack a high school credential? This statistic isn't just a number—it's a call to action for us all during Advocacy April. Why? Because every individual empowered with education is a step toward a stronger, more resilient economy and a healthier, happier family life. Here’s how: 👨👩👧👦 Family Impact: Adults obtaining their high school credentials set a powerful example for their children, fostering a culture of learning and ambition. Education within the family can break the cycle of poverty and inspire the next generation. 💼 Economic Benefits: Educated workers are the backbone of our economy. They earn significantly more than those without a high school diploma, contributing to higher tax revenues and lower reliance on public assistance programs. This means more resources for community development, better services, and a stronger economy for Illinois. 🚀 Workforce Development: With a high school credential, individuals gain access to further education and training opportunities, filling skill gaps in our economy. This alignment between education and workforce needs is crucial for Illinois' competitiveness in a rapidly evolving job market. 💡 Innovation and Community Engagement: Educated individuals are more likely to engage in civic activities, volunteer, and contribute to societal innovation. Their diverse experiences and insights are invaluable to creating vibrant, inclusive communities. Let's advocate for and invest in adult basic education. It's an investment in our people, our economy, and our future. Together, we can transform this statistic into a story of success and empowerment for Illinois. #AdvocacyApril #AdultEducation #EconomicGrowth #FamilyEmpowerment #WorkforceDevelopment Coalition on Adult Basic Education Erin Vobornik

Dr Angela Jackson from Impact Economics and Policy has dug into the Productivity Commission's modelling that found making early childhood education and care radically more affordable wouldn't really impact parents' decisions around work. Their model assumed that for every eight extra days of child care taken up, parents would only work one extra day. That doesn’t match current patterns and in the current cost-of-living climate doesn’t add up. Dr Jackson's report estimates that an equivalent of 134,000 full-time equivalent parents could rejoin the workforce under a low set fixed system. When The Parenthood polled 1200 parents with children under 6 this time last year more than 80% of families said they need two incomes just to meet the cost of living. When parents can't afford or access suitable care for their children, a second income is impossible and the cost of living crisis is also a cost of working crisis. Great piece in today's The Australian Financial Review by Julie Hare https://lnkd.in/gGuXKdpv

📢 Finally out in Economic Policy 🚨   “The Legacy of Covid-19 in Education” w/ Katharina Werner   Longitudinal evidence from 2 German school lockdowns on how the pandemic affected education & skill development of school children   Free link 👉 https://lnkd.in/dzAr6m57 Permanent link 👉 https://lnkd.in/dUGQVxhx Ungated version 👉 https://lnkd.in/dZiTxemC Will the pandemic leave a lasting legacy in human capital?   Our survey of >2,000 parents during 2nd German school lockdown provides 1⃣ new measures of socio-emotional development 2⃣ panel evidence on how students’ time use & educational inputs adapted over time Students’ learning time was cut in half during 1st closures (from 7.5 to 3.7 hours per day) Only modest rebound (to 4.6h) one year later Particularly substituted by gaming & online activities Parents see effectiveness of an hour of learning at home lower than in school Only 7% of schools provided daily online instruction during 1st closures 25% one year later Value-added model: Introducing daily online instruction strongly related to increased student learning time (by 1.1h per day) No relation of learning time w/ other school activities Parental assessments of children’s socio-emotional development are mixed Increasing share (from 36% to 48%) saw school closures as great psychological burden for their children 55% think that school closures harmed social skills But most parents do not report changes in most dimensions of their children’s socio-emotional wellbeing (SDQ) compared to pre-pandemic times Reduction in bullying as strong positive aspect Deterioration in ability to concentrate 59% of parents think their child learned much less during school closures Some positive effects on students’ digital skills & self-regulated learning Unless remedied, skill losses may leave substantial lasting legacy in reduced economic outcomes: ⬇️skill development ⬇️lifetime income ⬇️economic growth ⬆️inequality

As a kid, I was all about test scores and SATs. Socializing terrified me. I used to especially dread recess. I would do anything rather than go to the handball court. I volunteered to wash the chalkboard, asked to reorganize bookshelves, even made up ailments to go to the nurse (I believe once my thumb got a headache). This didn’t serve me well, and science backs this up. A 20-year study followed kindergartners and found: The kids rated as "more helpful and willing to share" ended up far more successful 20 years later: higher education, steady jobs, better lives. What did the research find about the kids who struggled with sharing? More substance abuse, legal trouble, unemployment issues down the line. So, if you have kids in your life, teach them these 5 social skills: 1. Social Assertiveness I overheard two kids on a playground: "I like your truck." "I like you too!" "I like you!" "I like you!" That's social assertiveness: stating your preferences and needs. Most kids withhold their liking from fear of rejection. Teach them: "Can I play with you?" It's one of the best phrases for kids to learn. 2. Social Planning Ask your kids before school: "What kids do you like? What kids make you nervous? When they state their preferences, ask them: “What do you want to do about it?” and they’ll naturally plan scenarios: "Maybe I should ask them to sit with me at lunch." 3. Seek First to Understand (Emotional Intelligence) Kids who can read emotions have better friendships and fewer conflicts. Help your kids recognize other kids' emotions by asking: • "How do you think he/she feels?" • "What do you think he/she thinks?" When kids can spot that someone is sad, frustrated, or excited, they can respond better, offering comfort, giving space, or joining the fun. Also teach them the 7 basic facial expressions (anger, happiness, sadness, fear, surprise, disgust, contempt). I wish I'd learned to read faces earlier. It would have helped me understand my teachers, parents, and friends better. 4. Synergize (Be Authentic About Feelings) I used to hide my awkwardness. When I started sharing it, people were kinder and understood me better. Teach kids that they can say: "I'm feeling nervous, I don't know anyone" or "I feel a little awkward." Vulnerability with the right people builds authentic connections. 5. Work Together (Collaboration) Once a month, encourage your kid to develop a "quest" with another child: a lemonade stand, car washing business, treehouse, or fort. They'll learn negotiation, planning, follow-through, and collaboration - skills they'll need for work and college. ____ BTW this is me circa 1990:

New study from National Bureau of Economic Research highlights a powerful policy insight: expanding access to full-day childcare can significantly boost employment and earnings for mothers. The study examines the 2016 federal initiative that expanded full-day programming in Head Start and links program data with employment and household data. The results are striking: • Full-day Head Start enrollment increased by 19% in targeted areas. • Single mothers’ employment rose by 1.9%. • Working hours increased by 2.5%. • Earnings grew by 6.5%. The takeaway is clear: childcare availability is a labor market and economic policy lever. Extending program hours meaningfully improves mothers’ ability to work, increasing both employment and income. This study, by professors Chloe Gibbs, Esra Kose, and Maria Fernanda Rosales Rueda, illustrates a simple but important point: childcare and opportunity go hand in hand. https://lnkd.in/gVg4mpxe

In 2020, global edtech funding hit $16.1 billion, a 318% jump from the year before. In India, the market ballooned from $700 million in 2019 to $3.5 billion by 2021. BYJU’S became a national obsession, crossing 100 million registered users, and raising over $3 billion in funding. It felt like we were witnessing the future of education which was accessible, scalable, data-driven. But five years later, the cracks are hard to ignore. The same sector that was once hailed as a revolution is now dealing with widespread regret. It first showed up in the data. Studies found that online learning during the pandemic led to 0.2 standard deviations worth of learning loss in math and reading. In India, ASER reported that basic reading levels in rural areas dropped by 6.2 percentage points during the edtech boom years. While user acquisition looked great on pitch decks, completion rates on major platforms hovered around 15-20%, compared to 60-70% in traditional classrooms. Even BYJU’S, with its massive user base, saw monthly active users drop to 5.5 million by 2022. And then came the financial shakeout. By 2023, global edtech funding had halved to $7.8 billion and continued to decline. In India, the market shrank to $2.1 billion by 2024, with over 15,000 jobs lost. BYJU’S valuation was slashed from $22 billion to under $5 billion. Unacademy and Vedantu laid off more than 1,600 employees combined. The fundamental promise, to democratize education, fell short because of realities that were easy to ignore in investor presentations but hard to overlook in real life. Only 31% of rural households in India had sufficient internet access. Online learning proved significantly less effective than in-person teaching, especially for young learners. Teachers burned out, parents struggled, and a 240% rise in pediatric eye strain cases made everyone question the costs of so much screen time. Further, Governments decided to step in. In 2023, India introduced tighter regulations under the Consumer Protection Act, fining edtech companies ₹17.5 crore for misleading ads and aggressive sales. Yet, not everything is broken. The dust is settling, and the industry is recalibrating. We’re seeing a shift towards hybrid models, which data shows deliver 16% better outcomes than purely online or offline ones. Platforms are prioritizing engagement over scale, with a renewed focus on teacher enablement rather than replacement. Tools that assist teachers are reporting 85% higher satisfaction rates. We often mistake short-term hype for long-term change. Edtech didn’t fail because technology can’t transform education. It failed because the expectations were untethered from the complexity of learning Now, we’re entering a more grounded phase, a realistic renaissance. Smaller, slower, more thoughtful. #edtech