Volume XIII, Number IV

After a year that kept many of us apart, KidSpirit contributors unravel questions about the ties that bind us together. How does isolation affect our wellbeing? Can it be helpful? How do we create true connection? Dig deeper into these especially urgent questions through this issue’s artwork, poetry, videos, and expository writing, then try connecting with those around you using the conversation starters below.

1. In the Big Question department, editor Oscar Luckett considers competing ideas about how humans can achieve real interconnectedness in his article, “Truly Connecting.” He highlights that both ancient and modern philosophers advise people to recognize their connections with every other person, even if they seem entirely distant or unrelated. Oscar himself suggests that we should approach strangers as we would friends. Has a stranger ever treated you with the kindness usually reserved for a friend? Likewise, have you ever interacted with a stranger as a friend? What makes these experiences rewarding? What makes them challenging? If you’d like, share your reflections.

2. Onkar Borde reflects upon the importance of both connection and isolation to sustain close relationships in his Helping Hands article, “Adhesive.” Onkar recounts how he and his sister constantly bickered until illness forced both to rely on the other. When challenging circumstances transform their relationship from a rivalry to a friendship, Onkar realizes that isolation can lead to the self-reflection necessary to end conflict and realize one’s connection with others. Has this ever happened between you and a sibling, or close friend? Have you ever privately reflected upon a conflict to adopt a fresh perspective and make peace? Share what advice you would give to someone in conflict with someone close to them.

3. In “The Friend Behind the Screen,” a Feature article by Jaden Flach, we learn what psychologists have observed about parasocial relationships, the connections we feel with people we admire through screens and books. Jaden explores how relating to a distant stranger has become ubiquitous in our culture dominated by social media and streaming entertainment. While these one-sided relationships can provide comfort and validation, they can also cause alienation and low self-esteem. Have you ever felt particularly connected with a musician, movie star, or influencer? How did that parasocial relationship impact your lifestyle or beliefs? Do you feel that impact was mostly positive or mostly negative?

4. Dr. Kelly–Ann Allen, an Educational and Developmental Psychologist, contributes this issue’s PerSpectives with, “Do You Long to Belong?” In her article, Dr. Allen presents her research that many children struggle at school because they do not feel that they belong, and advocates for these struggling students to build strong relationships with peers and teachers, join extracurricular activities, and get support from parents. When do you feel like you most belong when you are at school? Does a friend group, special club, favorite class, or other factor make you feel comfortable at school? By contrast, what situations or parts of your school day make you feel alienated? What would you tell a teacher about how to best make their classroom a place where everyone feels they belong?