When we talk about children “flourishing,” it’s easy for the conversation to drift straight toward academics, reading levels, early writing, counting, school readiness. These things have their place, of course. But if we stop there, we miss the heart of childhood entirely. Because a flourishing child is not simply a child who can perform. A flourishing child is a child who can feel. And this is where the definition shifts, from achievement to humanity. Academic success is mea
