Let Grow is Life Changing: Parents and Kids Agree

Maybe you’ve heard us talking about the anxiety-busting, confidence-growing properties of The Let Grow Experience, but you’re wondering: What exactly is it? How does it work?

Like this: Schools give students The Experience, an assignment that boils down to, “Go home and do something new, on your own, WITH your parents’ permission but WITHOUT your parents. Something you feel you’re ready to do but, for one reason or another, just haven’t done yet.”

It’s that simple. And free! Each month, there’s a different focus, like doing something at home or OUTSIDE the home. Here’s a note from Geoffrey Bishop, a principal in Alberta, Canada, telling us how it worked for them!

Dear Let Grow:

I wanted to give you a quick update on how things are going with Let Grow at Fort McMurray Christian School. We’ve been seeing a lot of student engagement and strong support from parents as the program continues to grow.

Parents/Caregivers have been sharing some wonderful stories of how their children are stepping up to new challenges, and students are proudly showcasing their growth. I’ve included a few of these stories in the latest communication I sent to our families, and they’ve really inspired our staff and school community.

Some samples from the school, edited down:

One of our Kindergarten students, Sofia, had been asking her mom to buy her new mittens. Her mom agreed to it only if Sofia would go up to the till (i.e., checkout counter) by herself and pay for them. Sophia is usually a very shy person, but she did it.  

Sofia said: “It made me happy and very, very excited! “

Sofia’s mom said: “After this experience, wherever we go, she is always asking me if she can pay! This experience has made her confident in herself.”

In Grade 3, Briea made an awesome charcuterie board on her own for the first time.

Briea said: “It was hard, but it is something that I can do again!”

Briea’s mom said: “My thought was just be patient and give her the time she needed. And she ate all of it, which was a win for her, too.”

Our grade 7 student, Emmanuel, wanted to help his grandpa build a greenhouse.

Emmanuel said: “It was a lot of fun to learn to use the drill and spend time with my grandpa. I had to crawl into a really tight space to drill that there was no way he was fitting into!”

Our grade 8 student, Raziela, learned how to use the city bus system. 

Raziela said: “I almost went downtown (don’t judge me!). It felt good to have some freedom and learn the skills to use the transit system. Next time, I will bring some water and do it when the weather is nice!

Raziela’s mom was initially nervous but very happy in the end that she let her do this.

These stories are just a few examples of how our students are embracing challenges, gaining independence, and growing in character. We have attached some photos capturing their Let Grow moments, and I hope these inspire your family to continue encouraging your child’s growth journey at home.

LET GROW here again: Want your school to do The Let Grow Experience? We’re guessing yes. Click here for more info. All our materials are free!