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Marsha Tufft

[STEM] What my dog taught me about raising problem-solvers

Published 7 months ago • 2 min read

Hi Reader,

What my dog taught me about raising problem-solvers:

Choice is the center of building problem-solving skills.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: We say we want kids who can think for themselves and handle hard things—but most of us aren’t willing to let them fail.

And without real failure in low-stakes situations, our kids enter adulthood unprepared for the choices that matter most.

I learned this from my dog.

No, seriously. One of my biggest teaching breakthroughs came from training my golden retriever to stand on a surfboard. And what I discovered applies directly to raising resilient, confident problem-solvers.

I recorded this 5-minute teaser video on the beach in Hilton Head—one take, not perfect, but it captures the core idea I want to share in a TEDx talk.

The first two-thirds focuses on the idea worth spreading. The last third connects it to what I’ve been doing through my books and STEM experiments.

​Watch it here and let me know what you think.

And speaking of which—which TEDx talk title resonates most with you?

Vote with the poll, or just hit reply and tell me!

I'd love your feedback on both the video and the title. Your input means a lot.

Thanks for weighing in!

Cheers!

Marsha & Mooney
Award-winning author / engineer & problem-solver
​

P.S. Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in the US! My next newsletter will come out the day after Thanksgiving.

P.P.S. I just wanted to give a shout-out to the amazing crew at United Airlines who helped me make a tight connection flying back from Austin Texas on November 8, before the government shutdown ended. Although my flights were not canceled, my flight to Houston was delayed by over an hour due to limited air traffic controllers in Houston.Read more about my experience here.

Dragon for Dinner

Dreaming of being a reporter, sixth-grader James has a severe writer's block until a box of antique books reveals a surprise—a lively, tiny blue dragon named Blue!

Claiming to solve James' problem, Blue adds a twist to their dinner and their lives. Will this quirky creature help James tap into the mystical power of Stan's books, or will it all just go up in smoke?

This is a tale of problem-solving with a little help from a magical friend. Who wouldn’t want a personal problem-solving dragon to drop in for dinner?

Have questions? Hit reply to this email and we'll help out!

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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Marsha Tufft

Unleash your inner inventor!

Making STEM accessible and fun: Changing attitudes about STEM through story; Building problem-solving skills through experiments. I’m an award-winning author & engineer. https://marshatufft.com – books, https://putneydesigns.com – STEM

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