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spring 2019

Society and the Individual

Does society shape individuals or do individuals shape society? Can one person impact a whole group? How do we balance independence and unity? Kids around the world delve into the questions that define our singular and collective identities.

winter 2018

Reality and Perception

Writers and artists take up the very fabric of our experience in this issue of KidSpirit. Is our perception accurate? Is reality actually real? Join us to explore the world through different eyes.

fall 2018

The Adventurous Spirit

What drives us to explore the unknown? How do new or challenging experiences transform our lives? Where is the border between comfort and adventure, and what happens when we cross it? Join young writers and artists on an expedition to understand the human impulse to break new ground.

summer 2018

Storytelling and Narrative

In a breakout issue of KidSpirit, contributors venture into the land of stories both true and imaginary. Journey with them through fiction, drama, poetry, and personal reflection to explore how the tales we tell shape our inner and outer worlds.

spring 2018

The Speed of Now

What does it mean to be alive at this moment? How is modern technology impacting our world and our experiences? Join KidSpirit contributors as they grapple with change, balance, and authenticity in their lives.

winter 2017

Creation and Destruction

In this issue, KidSpirit writers and artists dive into the fundamental nature of life and loss. Journey with them from the beginnings of the universe to the demise of all we know, as they explore the infinite meanings of birth and death in our world and beyond.

fall 2017

Unity and Division

What binds us together? What keeps us apart? How can we bridge divides to communicate across boundaries? KidSpirit contributors from all walks of life consider the lines that connect and separate our communities, families, and selves.

summer 2017

Resilience

We all face challenges and change, falls and failure. Now more than ever, resilience is crucial to thriving in our world. In this issue of KidSpirit, young contributors plumb the depths of their experiences to explore the strength of the human spirit.

spring 2017

Simplicity and Complexity

Do we live in an age of complexity? Why is it so difficult to appreciate the simple joys of life? Young writers and artists around the world grapple with balancing these concepts in the modern era.

winter 2016

Mysteries of the Universe

In this issue, KidSpirit contributors delve into the mysteries beyond our grasp. From light years across the cosmos to the depths of our own minds, journey with them to the farthest reaches of the unknown as they embrace the questions that shape our lives.

fall 2016

Human Dignity

What is our inherent worth as individuals? Can the labels placed on us by society predetermine the course of our lives? KidSpirit contributors consider their essential dignity and that of others as they reach for a deeper understanding.

summer 2016

Happiness

Does happiness have a different meaning for each of us? How do we know when we’re truly happy? KidSpirit contributors take on these questions and more in this issue on the roots and fruits of well-being.

spring 2016

Myth and Magic

What draws us to the realm of the fantastical? Why are we driven to explain the inexplicable? In this issue of KidSpirit, contributors investigate how things unknown, mysterious, and imagined have a very real impact on our lives.

winter 2015

Heritage

Redolent with associations of home, family, and ancestry, this issue celebrates all that binds us to each other — from the quotidian experiences of food and tradition, to our larger sense of identity.

fall 2015

Power

Documentarian and activist Valarie Kaur challenges us: "What would it mean to be brave in this world?" In this issue, young writers and artists draw from an immense range of backgrounds and traditions to bravely confront the topic of power.

summer 2015

The Stranger

What makes someone a stranger? Are humans innately suspicious of others? Writers explore not only those who appear different or as outsiders — our traditional understanding — but also broader interpretations of the unknowable: memories of the past, lives of fictional characters, even parts of their innermost selves.

spring 2015

Climate Change

“The power of hope is far more energizing than the power of fear.” With these words, John McIlwain, Director of the Climate, Mind, and Behavior symposium at the Garrison Institute, framed a critical issue of our time: climate change. Although the thought of climate change can be a frightening one, KidSpirit contributors sow seeds of hope.

winter 2014

The Word

How does language evolve? What do the words we use say about the cultures we come from? In this issue, KidSpirit contributors examine prose and poetry, perception and power.

fall 2014

Discovery and Progress

What drives us to explore new frontiers? Democracy, borders, leadership, innovation — these are just a few of the aspects of Discovery and Progress that KidSpirit writers and artists investigate in our fall issue.

summer 2014

Numbers & Symbols

What significance do symbols have within a culture? What is the purpose of numbers? KidSpirit contributors interpret myriad signs in our summer issue — a rich alchemy of exploration and storytelling, artwork and poetry.

spring 2014

The Psyche

KidSpirit writers engage in a rich exploration of the inner life, unmasking the creativity, boldness, and chaos of the human psyche while acknowledging our desire to understand ourselves.

winter 2013

The Nature of Truth

Is truth absolute? How do we recognize what is true? How can we access our truest selves? These questions reappear at every stage of life and are the vortex of KidSpirit’s global community of truth-seekers in this issue.

fall 2013

Beauty and the Senses

Beauty is most often associated with our sense of sight — but in our Beauty and the Senses issue, KidSpirit contributors venture far beyond the visual to explore beauty in travel and thought, in song and the sublime.

summer 2013

The Soul of Gender

From a look at gender roles in society, religion, and media to inner inquiry, this issue reflects both the changing landscape of today’s culture and the eternal questions of our relationship to self and the other.

spring 2013

The Heroic Spirit

Brave civilians. Firemen. Ai Weiwei. Ernest Shackleton. You. Which of these people is a hero? In this issue of KidSpirit, our increasingly global community of contributors examine the heroic in disparate times and places.

winter 2012

The God Issue

In plunging into a theme about what we call the “Ultimate Reality,” the “Almighty,” or, somewhat more whimsically, the “Great Pumpkin,” KidSpirit’s undaunted contributors from all corners of the globe share their voices and their vision.

fall 2012

Money and Value

Defying preconceptions about teens' attitudes toward money, KidSpirit contributors near and far grapple with a topic as enticing as it is polarizing.

summer 2012

Exploring Time

The paradox of the eternal and the temporal is at the core of this issue of KidSpirit, showcasing a panoply of views from young thinkers and artists. From the experience of the “thin current” in our daily lives to explorations of eternity itself, this theme is both a reflection of the peculiarities of our era and of the mystery of the human condition.

spring 2012

A Lens on Learning

Our educational experiences are critical in our daily lives as students and, not surprisingly, they continue to reverberate in our lives and our communities as adults. KidSpirit writers always seek to uncover new perspectives on weighty topics and their exploration of the learning process is no exception.

winter 2011

Ethics and Morality

How do we live in accordance with our deepest beliefs and aspirations? Do we develop a moral sensibility as we grow or are we born with it? From start to finish, this issue takes us on a journey of inner exploration and asks us to consider where we stand in relation to humanity and the universe.

fall 2011

Creativity and Imagination

What is the imagination? What is the source of our creativity and how do we nourish it? These questions and others are at the hub of this issue of KidSpirit.

summer 2011

Exploring Humor

This issue explores the mystery of the funny bone. Really? You say. What was that bit in the KidSpirit tagline about tackling life’s big questions? Humor? You must be kidding…

spring 2011

Conflict and Peacemakers

This issue of KidSpirit goes to one of the deepest yearnings of our existence: peace. Most people, if asked, would say that they want peace to prevail. KidSpirit writers and poets probe that assumption from many vantage points in this potent issue.

winter 2010

The Question of Meaning

When the Editorial Board pressed for this theme, I balked: “Seriously, you guys, do you really want to go this big?” They insisted that we should devote an issue to the question of meaning, with all its grandiosity and ambiguity. What evolved is a multi-faceted exploration that may leave you agape from its boldness.

winter 2010

Finding Your Spirit in Art

What is Art? Why does it move us? These eternal questions are at the core of this meaty issue of KidSpirit, challenging us to consider our assumptions anew. Is music without sound Art? Is mathematics a form of Art? Is Manga an Art? “Yes!” our passionate writers argue.

summer 2010

The Body in Balance

How do we find balance in a fast-paced world? KidSpirit writers discuss stewardship of the planet, and how to be physically and psychologically healthy.

spring 2010

Rituals and Traditions

KidSpirit writers explore the common elements among different cultures and their celebrations. Is it important to learn how others celebrate? What happens when our rituals change? Must we change, too?

fall 2010

Competition and Achievement

Are competition and achievement related? What does it mean to be a “healthy” competitor? Have we lost sight of the role that ancient values like honor play in our quest for success? These are some of the difficult questions that writers tackled in this issue of KidSpirit.

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