Why human connection is a skill worth protecting—and practicing.
We live in a world where we can connect with almost anyone, anywhere, at any time. We can collaborate across continents, learn from experts we’ve never met, and maintain relationships without ever sharing the same physical space.
It’s remarkable, really.
But somewhere along the way, we’ve also become increasingly comfortable communicating without actually having conversations.
We text instead of talk. We scroll through the lives of people we know without necessarily engaging with them. We can spend hours connected to the virtual world while barely interacting with the people sitting next to us.
And while technology has created extraordinary opportunities, it’s worth asking: Are we giving ourselves and our children enough opportunities to practice being together?
The Research Is Worth Our Attention
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory identifying loneliness and social isolation as significant public health concerns. Among its findings, social isolation was associated with a 29% increased risk of premature mortality.
Social connection isn’t simply a feel-good idea. It contributes to our physical health, emotional well-being, resilience, and ability to thrive within communities.
Researchers and authors like Jonathan Haidt and Sherry Turkle have also raised important questions about what happens when digital interaction increasingly replaces face-to-face experiences, particularly during childhood.
Of course, technology isn’t the enemy. At ESTEAM Academy, we use it every day as a tool for learning, creating, researching, and connecting. We believe our learners should be capable of navigating both the digital and physical worlds.
But we also recognize that convenience can come at a cost when it removes opportunities to develop essential human skills.
Community by Design
At ESTEAM, community isn’t an extracurricular benefit. It’s part of the learning experience itself.
Our learners engage in Socratic discussions, collaborate on Quests, establish community contracts, resolve conflicts, hold one another accountable, and navigate the challenges of working alongside people with different ideas, personalities, and perspectives.
And sometimes, it’s uncomfortable.
Good! That’s where much of the learning happens.
We don’t expect children to arrive knowing how to navigate every disagreement, initiate every conversation, or collaborate effortlessly. We create an environment where they have opportunities to practice those skills, reflect on their experiences, and try again.
Because learning to communicate, collaborate, and contribute to a community is just as intentional as learning to read, write, or solve a mathematical problem.
And these skills don’t suddenly become less important when we become adults. Our workplaces, families, neighborhoods, and organizations depend on people who can listen, communicate, disagree respectfully, and work together.
Perhaps we could all benefit from a little more practice.
An Invitation to Reconnect
As we continue building our ESTEAM community, we’re looking forward to creating even more opportunities for learners, parents, and families to gather, engage in meaningful conversations, and strengthen the relationships that make our community what it is.
In the meantime, consider making a little more room for connection in your own life.
Put the phones away during dinner. Invite someone over. Strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know. Spend time with people whose perspectives differ from your own.
And bring your children along for the experience.
After all, they’re learning how to engage with the world by watching how we engage with it.
Looking for a Different Kind of Learning Community?
If you’re looking for a place where your child is challenged academically while also developing the confidence, communication skills, independence, and relationships needed to navigate the world, perhaps it’s time to explore ESTEAM Academy.
We’re building a community of capable, curious young people who learn to think for themselves, contribute to something larger than themselves, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
We invite you to come see what that looks like.
Explore ESTEAM Academy and Schedule a Visit
Explore the Research & Keep Reading
We encourage families to explore the ideas, question the research, and draw their own conclusions.
Research
- U.S. Surgeon General (2023) — Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. An examination of the relationship between social connection, health, and community well-being.
Suggested Reads
- The Anxious Generation — Jonathan Haidt. Examines the shift from play-based childhoods toward phone-based experiences and argues for restoring real-world independence and social interaction.
- Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age — Sherry Turkle. Explores what happens to relationships, empathy, and communication when we increasingly substitute digital interaction for face-to-face conversation.
- Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other — Sherry Turkle. A broader examination of how technology shapes relationships and our expectations of connection.
