A Safe Haven in Cartoon Confidants

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/22/a-safe-haven-in-cartoon-confidantes

David Bornstein

The New York Times

22 November 2010

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Children coming from abusive households are often reluctant to discuss their past experiences. A Mexican foundation is using animated characters to help abused and ill children speak about their lives.

Curbing Online Abuse Isn't Impossible. Here's Where We Start

http://www.wired.com/2014/05/fighting-online-harassment

Laura Hudson

Wired

15 May 2014

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Harassment on the internet is more accepted but just as harmful as it is in person. RiotGames, a game publisher, decreased abuse by enabling its gaming members to decide and enforce community norms.

Escaping the Cycle of Scarcity

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/escaping-the-cycle-of-scarcity

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

25 September 2013

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Poor people are less likely to make smart financial decisions; however, new research in the U.S. says this is not about intelligence but rather about a brain being overwhelmed with issues related to poverty. To combat that barrier of stress, organizations around the world are making financial decisions easier for people experiencing poverty by making borrowing easier and automating future financial planning, like 401(k) contributions.

Fighting Bullying With Babies

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/fighting-bullying-with-babies

David Bornstein

The New York Times

8 November 2010

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The Canadian federal government has identified bullying as a national problem. Roots of Empathy, based in Toronto, encourages empathy in elementary kids by having them interact with babies.

For Better Crime Prevention, a Dose of Science

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/making-sure-crime-prevention-pays

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

16 January 2015

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Crime is a result of many underlying social issues, but Crime Lab, a research organization with branches in New York and Chicago, is studying which simple solutions will have the most impact in their city. Cost-effective efforts such as tutoring combined with cognitive behavioral therapy have proven to be successful.

In Classroom Discipline, a Soft Approach Is Harder Than It Looks

https://medium.com/bright/in-classroom-discipline-a-soft-approach-is-harder-than-it-looks-3cc043197fbb

Ruben Brosbe

Bright Magazine

14 April 2015

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When students misbehave in school, teachers struggle to decide the right kind of intervention, with school suspension a common outcome. However, research has shown that school suspensions can increase the likelihood of dropouts and incarcerations so that there is pressure to decrease the rate of suspensions. Restorative justice has become a favorable alternative because misbehaving students can participate in a number of supportive activities such as peer meditation or collaborative negotiation to build community, trust, and confidence.

In Egypt, Sowing Seeds of Gender Equality

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/22/in-egypt-sowing-the-seeds-of-gender-equality

Elizabeth Stuart

The New York Times

22 January 2015

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Muslim women in Egypt are expected to marry young and to stay close to home, and if they do not, they can be subjected to abuse or heavy criticism by men in the household. Save the Children’s Choices program offers educational workshop sessions for boys and girls, ages 10 to 14, which help them explore gender identity. Through discussions, the program hopes to change gender norms.

Improving School Lunch by Design

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/rethinking-school-lunch

Courtney E. Martin

The New York Times

16 October 2013

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The San Francisco Unified School District is piloting a collaboration with the design firm IDEO to re-imagine the school food system and help combat childhood obesity by better designing the space and the experience of how children eat, as much as the type of food they consume.

Hard Times for Recess

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/hard-times-for-recess

David Bornstein

The New York Times

4 April 2011

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Despite strong evidence that school-based physical activity improves children’s cognitive skills, concentration, and behavior, schools under pressure to produce quantitative results and decrease bullying have drastically cut back on recess in recent years. An Oakland-based nonprofit organization called Playworks is working to make healthy play accessible for more children and show schools how productive recess can be to the whole academic world.

For Weight Loss, a Recipe of Teamwork and Trust

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/for-weight-loss-a-recipe-of-teamwork-and-trust

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

15 November 2011

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While weight loss can be challenging to maintain, different structures are being created to help. Certain support groups, financial incentives, and tough love are proving to be effective.