In an achievement-oriented culture -- where mounting academic and college admissions pressures are beginning earlier in life than ever[1] -- raising balanced, resilient children can be a challenge.


George Estrada, Vice President of Technology at the Center for American Progress, told HuffPost Live's Nancy Redd[2] that children are feeling the pressures of achievement earlier and earlier.


"Our culture is this hyper success-driven idea that you have to be successful all the time," he said. "There's a medal for everything, there's a trophy for everything, so the minute you don't get it, you feel you've failed."


But getting children aligned with a philosophy of looking inward, upward and onward -- one that is preached to adults -- can be tricky, according to Renee Jain, an expert on childhood resilience and happiness.


"You talk about The Third Metric[3] and aiming to redefine success going beyond money and power, but what's the equivalent of money and power for kids? So how do we define success for kids?" Jain asked.


Jain explored the answer to those questions in a blog post published here on HuffPost.[4] "Let's teach our children that goals aren't intangible, floating ideals. Let's teach them that it doesn't always matter where the starting line is. What matters more is a commitment to work hard, to accept failure as an opportunity to learn and a re-commitment to work harder," she wrote.


Catch the full conversation on Third Metric parenting at HuffPost Live HERE[5] .



Also on HuffPost:




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  • Clear


    Called <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/7/3613664/clear-for-mac-review" target="_blank">"The iPhone's most beautiful to-do list app"</a> by The Verge, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clear/id493136154?mt=8" target="_blank">Clear</a> ($9.99 for Mac) is a productivity app for those who care about aesthetics just as much -- if not more -- than functionality. But it's also incredibly user-friendly: Just swipe to check an item off the list, and simply shake your phone for the option to email your list. The user can also create separate lists for work, shopping, personal goals and more. <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5885307/clear-app-cross-chores-off-your-to+do-list-with-a-swipe" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a> deems it "perfect for busy people."




  • Pocket


    Formerly known as Read It Later, the free app <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-formerly-read-it-later/id309601447?mt=8" target="_blank">Pocket</a> can be used to save articles, videos and web pages that you don't have time to read but want to return to later. Like Evernote, the app syncs across platforms for easy access and streamlined link-saving. CNET gave the app a five-star review, <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/software/pocket-android/4505-3513_7-35473909.html" target="_blank">writing</a>: "If you're looking for a bookmarking tool that syncs across devices, then look no further. Better than Instapaper and other competitors, Pocket is the app to beat in the category."




  • Evernote


    Sync all your notes, clippings, to-do lists and reminders across devices with Evernote, the highly-rated productivity app that makes it to the top of many reviewers' lists. The <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8" target="_blank">free app</a> conserves time and energy by saving all your files, photos, reminders, to-do lists, tweets and more in one app accessible from all your platforms. Email notes to yourself or others, and search within notes for easy access to any information. "Evernote is the last notebook you'll ever need," <a href="http://socialmediatoday.com/node/1524231" target="_blank">Social Media Today</a> wrote.




  • MindNode


    Before you dismiss the idea of mind-mapping as something out of The Matrix, try the brainstorming tool <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindnode/id312220102?mt=8" target="_blank">MindNode</a> ($9.99). The iPhone and iPad app could lead you to some of your best ideas in less time by allowing you to organize projects and concepts in a vibrant graphic. "The theory is that these large, pictorial networks mirror the way our brains work, making it easier to spot connections and insert new ideas," <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/02/08/5-best-apps-for-getting-and-staying-organized/2/" target="_blank">a Forbes article explains</a>.




  • Mailbox


    If just looking at your overflowing Gmail inbox makes your pulse quicken, the free iPhone app <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mailbox/id576502633?mt=8" target="_blank">Mailbox</a> is your new best friend. The app helps you tackle that mounting inbox -- with the goal of getting down to the elusive "inbox zero" -- with convenient labels for all your unread emails and a feature that allows you to instantly swipe messages to archive or trash. "Mailbox largely fixes a problem most of us have with email: quickly getting rid of the junk we don't want, and saving the stuff we do for later," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mailbox-iphone-app-review-2013-2#ixzz2YUY5c7Yq" target="_blank">writes Business Insider</a>. "You'll want to give it a try."




  • CloudOn


    <a href="http://mashable.com/2013/04/26/5-apps-boost-work-productivity/" target="_blank">Recommended by Mashable</a> for boosting work productivity, CloudOn (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cloudon/id474025452?mt=8" target="_blank">free in the App Store</a>) allows you to use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to create documents on the go using your iPhone, iPad or Droid. Users can sync with Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and SkyDrive accounts, and also email files to contacts directly from mobile devices, so you don't have to wait until you get to a computer to add that attachment. "If you find yourself in a pinch needing to work with Microsoft Office files, the free CloudOn app might be just what you’re looking for," <a href="http://techland.time.com/2013/04/15/50-must-have-ipad-apps/slide/cloudon/#ixzz2YUZao2Ru" target="_blank">writes TIME TechLand</a>.




  • Checkmark


    You've written on at least five to-do lists that you need to pick up your dry cleaning, but can never seem to remember at the moment you're actually walking past the dry cleaner. Of course, there's an app for that. Try <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/checkmark/id524873453?mt=8" target="_blank">Checkmark</a>, which can set up reminders based on time and location. For $4.99, users can create repeat notifications, or snooze reminders to save for next time. "While Apple's built-in Reminders app does location-based tasks pretty well, Checkmark makes it dead simple," <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5963231/checkmark-is-still-the-best-location+based-reminders-app-around-is-99-today" target="_blank">LifeHacker raves</a>.