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Watch On Demand

Parent Like It’s 2026: Watch On Demand

The Playbook for Raising Motivated, Independent Kids in a World That’s Changing Fast

Parent Like It’s 2026 is a practical workshop for parents who want their children to build resilience, confidence, and ownership over time—without constant reminders, stress, or power struggles.

The focus isn’t on quick fixes, but on creating conditions that help kids grow into capable, self-driven learners.

Missed the live workshop or want to revisit the core ideas?
Watch on demand now!

What You’ll Learn

In this one-hour session, the Alpha School team explores three research-backed mindsets that consistently shape children’s motivation, resilience, and independence — drawing from decades of work by leading child development researchers:

  • Developing a Growth Mindset
    Grounded in the research of Dr. Carol Dweck, we examine how beliefs about effort, ability, and challenge influence whether children persist through difficulty or disengage. The focus is on how parents can reinforce learning-oriented thinking without tying confidence to outcomes.

  • Driving Motivation
    Drawing from the work of Dr. David Yeager, we explore how motivation develops when high expectations are paired with genuine support. Parents learn what helps kids stay engaged when things get hard — and why belief and competence matter more than pressure.

  • Fostering Independence
    Informed by research from Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, we focus on autonomy as a foundation for resilience and healthy stress management. It highlights how gradual shifts in control help children build confidence, coping skills, and ownership over time.

Each topic is presented through a practical parenting lens and is paired with actionable tools, connecting research to real-life decisions about when to step in — and when to step back.

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Alex Kiser

Alex is a leader at Alpha and a former Head of School who has worked closely with Guides and families to help students develop motivation, independence, and ownership of their learning. As the facilitator, Alex brings Alpha’s research-backed practices and real campus experience to life in ways parents can use right away.

 

 

 


"The better you know a child, the better you can foster their motivation."

Resources

Download the Workshop Toolkit

Follow along with the recording using practical tools shared during the workshop. This downloadable toolkit includes frameworks like Grit Mountain and Motivation Levers to help you better understand your child, the support they need, and what helps them move from interest to initiative. Each tool is simple, flexible, and designed to be used over time.

Download the Toolkit

Hear from the Experts Behind our Approach

Watch full videos and short clips from our events featuring thought-leaders such as William Stixrud, Ph.D., and Ned Johnson, authors of The Self-Driven Child, and David Yeager, Ph.D. These conversations explore how kids learn best when they feel ownership, build motivation, and are trusted to lead their own growth.

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