MindShift Podcast Deborah Farmer Kris: How Awe Helps Us Flourish
Nov 11, 2025
Deborah Farmer Kris, a child development expert and author of *Raising Awe-Seekers*, explores the transformative power of awe in this conversation. She defines awe as an involuntary emotion that can enhance student engagement and curiosity in the classroom. Deborah shares practical tips, like 'awe walks,' to foster this feeling in daily life. She contrasts awe with toxic positivity and discusses its role in community bonding. Finally, she highlights how awe can evolve as we grow, emphasizing its importance for personal and social connection.
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Awe Is A Powerful Developmental Emotion
- Awe is an emotion triggered by encountering something vast or beyond ordinary frames of reference.
- Research links awe to curiosity, memory, connectedness, and broad developmental benefits for children.
Awe Primes Learning And Memory
- Awe strongly correlates with curiosity, which fuels intrinsic motivation to learn.
- Curiosity primes the brain to remember information even after the awe-inducing moment ends.
Use One Spark To Engage Students
- Find one thing that excites a disengaged student and use it as a foundation for other learning.
- Leverage that spark to prime attention and transfer interest to less engaging tasks.
