What if your child's New Year's resolution was to try every ice cream flavor or visit all the neighborhood parks? It sounds silly, but the neuroscience says these "ridiculous" goals might be exactly what their developing brain needs. Here's why the best kid goals are the ones that make you roll your eyes.

Before you add one more item to your holiday cart, read this: May 2025 research on kindergarten free play just revealed that four distinct play environments produce measurable developmental gains across every domain. More than four gave kids nothing. Here's what your child's brain actually needs—and why the enrichment culture has been lying to you.