Spark Grit & Genius in Your Kids with These 5 Keys!

I’m pumped to dive into August to talk about creativity and resilience. They’re like the ultimate tag team for kids, and us.

Creativity sparks wild ideas, like my kids coding an AI app or stealing the show in a play. Resilience gives them the grit to bounce back when things flop. Together, they build unstoppable confidence and curiosity.

We need these skills too, as parents and educators, to navigate life’s ups and downs. Studies show kids who tap into creativity and keep pushing through setbacks become epic problem-solvers. It’s like giving them a superpower for life.

I’m inspired by Jim Kwik, who just celebrated a birthday last week (happy birthday, Jim!). A brain injury at five left him struggling, labeled “the boy with the broken brain.”

Comics were his haven where he’d escape into superhero stories when school felt crushing. Then a friend’s dad lit a spark, getting him curious about his own brain. Jim dove into neuroscience books, found new ways to learn, and turned his limits into strengths. Now he’s the limitless brain coach, author of Limitless, and a global inspiration.

But what if Jim hadn’t gotten curious or stayed resilient? Would he still be stuck, feeling broken? What if our kids miss out on these powers. Could they miss out on living their best, fullest lives?

Watch this video with your kids for Jim’s story and I promise it's a powerful wake-up call to prioritize on unlocking our inner superpowers.

Today we're going to honor his incredible journey by sharing his 5 keys to limitless creativity, a secret to help our kids—and us—unlock our creative potential.

Ever get a brilliant idea in the shower? That’s your brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN) or "shower effect" firing up creative sparks when you’re chilled out.

What if you could help your kids tap into that relaxed state more often?

You can with this week's empowering tips from Jim Kwik’s M.A.G.I.C. approach to limitless creativity. It's what fuel's resilience and keeps them pushing forward.

Let’s dive in!

M – MINDSET: Own Your Creative Identity

Reflect on how you and your kids view creativity. Do you see it as a skill everyone can develop and deserves to explore? The words “I am” shape your focus and reality. Try these to help kids claim their creative power:

• Build an “I Am Creative” ritual: Have kids say “I am a creative thinker” each morning to boost confidence and resilience in their unique talents.
• Turn setbacks into wins: Parents and educators, guide kids to write one challenge (e.g., a tricky project) and how they creatively overcame it, fostering a growth mindset.

A – ASK: Unlock Ideas with Bold Questions

Questions spark innovation by opening new perspectives. Use unexpected prompts to inspire kids’ creativity and resilience in tackling challenges:

• Try “What If” family brainstorms: Parents, ask kids, “What if you could invent a new gadget for school?” to spark ideas like a backpack with wings.
• Pose “Make It Epic” challenges: Educators, ask students, “How could we turn this history lesson into a play?” to encourage creative solutions and persistent thinking.

G – GOALS: Make Dreams Visible Through Writing

Writing goals turns invisible dreams into reality, and handwriting makes them deeply personal. Use creativity to fuel kids’ goals with these strategies:

• Handwrite a “Creative Quest”: Parents, have kids jot down one creative goal (e.g., “Invent a new game by Friday”) in a journal, making it personal and building resilience through progress.
• Sketch a “Goal Vision”: Educators, guide students to draw a quick picture of a creative goal (e.g., a new dance move) on a class chart, using creativity to drive persistence.

I – IMAGINATION: Dream Bigger Than Knowledge

Imagination surpasses knowledge, as Einstein showed through thought experiments that sparked new ideas. By asking bold questions and blending them with knowledge, kids can create fresh solutions. Try these:

• Run a “Thought Adventure” sprint: Parents, ask kids, “What if you could ride a cloud—how would it feel?” then have them draw it, combining imagination with action to build resilience.
• Host “Big Idea” challenges: Educators, prompt students to imagine “What if you could talk to a dinosaur?” and write a short story, using knowledge to ground creative ideas.

C – CARE: Nurture Your Brain, the Ultimate Creative Tool

Your brain is the greatest creativity tool in the universe, and your limitless mind is the source of all imagination. Protect and boost it with these brain-health strategies:

• Create a “Brain Boost” snack ritual: Parents, have kids pick one brain-healthy food (e.g., blueberries or walnuts) daily to fuel creativity and resilience, sharing their choice at dinner.
• Use “Mind Refresh” breaks: Educators, give students 2-minute breaks to doodle or do a quick stretch during lessons, keeping their brains sharp for creative problem-solving.

Take Action: Try one M.A.G.I.C. tip this week and share your kid’s creative breakthrough in our REK Facebook Group!

Coffee that works with your mind and body.

It’s tough to be our best, most creative self if we’re constantly crashing from caffeine or coursing with anxious energy. In fact, half of us are genetically wired to make processing caffeine a challenge.

The good news? A Berkeley PhD scientist created Rarebird, using paraxanthine instead of caffeine.

• Smooth, sustained energy that supports your busy day
• Crystal-clear focus that carries you through every afternoon
• Peaceful, restorative sleep no matter when you enjoy your cup

Experience coffee that enhances your life instead of complicating it—energy that works as hard as you do. Try Rarebird and save 10% >>

I love fueling my kids’ passions, whether it’s tech and AI, sports and health, or theater and arts. But the real magic happens when I show creativity and resilience in my own life. Pivoting through business challenges or tackling tough moments with grit shows my kids how to stay curious and bold.

Our sponsor, Niphtio, gets that creative minds need a clear headspace. Don’t let digital clutter squash your best ideas. Niphtio sorts your chaos—posts, articles, research—with slick search and collections, available on iOS and any browser. Download it free here>>

Quick update on our latest new REK member, Harmony Hare. Take a look at where she's been hopping 🌎

This mission’s a big deal. It’s all about positive self-talk and peace in classrooms, helping kids grow confident and kind.

Next week, we’re launching Harmony Hare and Her Three Voices with a 48-hour sweet deal on physical or e-copies so get ready to order your copy and be the first to bring Harmony’s magic to your city!

Let’s inspire our kids to dream big and bounce back bolder!

Share this with friends and help raise 1 million empowered kids with Hero Intelligence!

This edition of our newsletter is proudly sponsored by our empowerment partner. Their support helps us bring you valuable resources and opportunities to support your journey in raising empowered kids.