Child Development Experts at MKA

There was standing room only at The Montclair Kimberley Academy recently, as the MKA Parents’ Association sponsored “Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children” an evening for the community featuring leading child development experts Dr. Michael Thompson and Rachel Simmons.
The audience of close to 600 listened intently to words of advice on topics ranging from bullying to friendship, enjoying anecdotes, insights and the opportunity to ask questions from the authors of such notable works as “Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Lives of Boys” and “Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls.”
This event was the conclusion to a remarkable day at the MKA Middle School, where Thompson and Simmons had addressed groups of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students – divided by sex.  Following these talks, the students split into smaller single sex groups led by faculty and administrators, to discuss what they had heard and to share some of their own experiences of middle school social life. They then participated in a variety of activities designed to promote bonding and build trust.
Before retuning for the evening event, Thompson and Simmons addressed the entire MKA tri-campus faculty for a discussion on how best to deal with parental concerns and anxieties around social and learning issues.
“This was a remarkable experience for the entire community and a terrific day for our students,“ noted MKA Middle School Campus Head Dr. Randy Kleinman, “both Thompson and Simmons have appeared at MKA before, but to have them share the stage and offer their insights and expertise to every section of the MKA family was an incredible honor and will have tremendous payoff, for both our students and for us as professionals.”

To see photos from the day, click here and view the "All School" Gallery