“It is a well documented fact that kids’ confidence begins to decline by the time they reach 5th grade, many times even earlier. Despite the longstanding pattern, I don’t believe the loss of self-esteem is built into our nature.

I want young kidsto know that it’s not only acceptable, but encouraged for them to express their emotions. Being a ‘good kid’ doesn’t require a child to dampen their emotions or remain quiet. By helping kids learn to communicate feelings effectively, we can teach them that their voices are powerful. We can help them build positive and trusting friendships with respectful  dialogue in place of behavior that has caused hidden wounds for generations. We can empower kids to stand together and build each other up.

I want young kids to know that they don’t need to aim for perfection. By teaching a child that making mistakes is both natural and necessary, we can prepare them to take smart risks and grow outside her comfort zone. We can allow our kids to understand that there is so much more that they bring to the world aside from the society’s focus on image and perfection.”

— Rina Joshi, founder of Nest Collective