GreatSchools launches season two of podcast Like a Sponge.

The 7-episode season explores the science behind raising resilient and happy children.

OAKLAND, CA (October 8, 2020) — Educational nonprofit GreatSchools.org, has launched a new season of Like a Sponge, its podcast for parents about the science of how children learn and thrive. Distributed by Public Radio Exchange (PRX), with support from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, this 7-episode season takes on an increasingly urgent question: How to raise children with the character strengths they need to become kind, caring and responsible citizens?

This nonpartisan, expert-driven series addresses questions that many parents are grappling with:

• How do you raise an honest child in a post-truth society?
• What qualities help protect kids from mental illness and substance abuse?
• What helps kids recover from injustice?
• How do you raise children who can connect with people different from them?

Each episode weaves together stories of people whose lives have been changed by specific character strengths with insights from scientists and educators. All episodes offer concrete ways that listeners can apply the science of character to the children in their lives.

“We live in a moment when suddenly the need to raise kids who are caring, community-minded and resilient is more obvious than ever,” says host and co-producer Carol Lloyd. “Luckily there’s amazing new research that offers us a roadmap for how to help our children grow up not only to survive but thrive.”

The first season explored topics such as why math fills so many Americans with fear and loathing, the hotly debated topic of standardized tests, the early adolescent brain, and more. The podcast is produced by GreatSchools’ Carol Lloyd and Charity Ferreira, whose writing has been published/broadcast in The New York Times Magazine, EdWeek, Mother Jones, Salon, the Los Angeles Times, and on This American Life. Today Like a Sponge is available on iTunes, Spotify and all major podcast platforms.

In addition to Like a Sponge, GreatSchools also offers parents free resources to support the academic and social emotional development of their children including information about every K-12 school in the nation as well as articles, worksheets, videos, and grade-by-grade newsletters in English and Spanish. During these unprecedented times families can also use GreatSchools’ school closure learning guide, in English and Spanish, to access grade-based tools, resource recommendations, and guidance for learning at home.

GreatSchools experts are available for media interviews. For more information about their parenting resources visit https://www.greatschools.org/gk/grade-by-grade-newsletter/.

About GreatSchools:
GreatSchools is the leading national nonprofit empowering parents with essential information to improve educational opportunities for their child. Using GreatSchools’ trusted ratings and school quality information, parents can find the right school for their family and take action to improve schools in their communities. Thousands of articles, tips and interactive tools offer parents easy-to-use resources to support their child’s learning and wellbeing every day. Families, community leaders and policymakers turn to GreatSchools for the school information they need to guide children to great futures.