Outer World Conversation Card Framework
For Parents: A Message from the Creators
This project stems from nearly 30 years of combined experience working with kids and families as Clinical Psychologists, as well as being parents ourselves. While these cards are intended to be a fun and engaging way for families to connect, the questions also target core aspects of social-emotional and cognitive development. We envision them being used in the car on the way to practice, before or after school, at meal times, while preparing or cleaning up from dinner, or maybe even before bed. Try leaving them out and accessible, see what happens!
Some of the cards will be very clear, some not as much. That is OK, and intentional. If you are unsure what a card is asking, discuss it. Encourage personalized responses and show curiosity in other perspectives. This becomes a chance to demonstrate curiosity, and encourage individual thought and experience. While there may be high(er) or low(er) effort responses, there are no "right" or "wrong" answers. Encourage high effort responses, but most importantly, have fun!
Outer World Card Categories
Kind Mind: Empathy, Compassion & Moral Reasoning
- Merges caring about otherswith ethical reasoning and values development
- Supports moral development and prosocial behavior formation
- Encourages consideration of others' feelings and ethical decision-making
People Lens: Social Understanding, Perspective-Taking & Global Awareness
- Integrates relationship navigation, communication skills, and increasingly sophisticated social cognition characteristic of middle childhood
- Builds empathy, cultural competence, and ability to see situations from different perspectives
- Supports developing understanding of cultural differences and global citizenship
World Windows: Cultural Identity & Personal Traditions
- Focuses on family traditions, cultural background, and personal celebrations
- Supports identity formation through cultural connections and meaningful traditions
- Encourages appreciation for personal heritage while building cultural self-awareness
- Develops sense of belonging and continuity across generations
Idea Factory: Critical Thinking, Creativity & Future Planning
- Combines problem-solving, imaginative thinking, and forward-looking planning
- Develops abstract thinking skills that emerge during ages 9-12
- Encourages analytical thinking, goal-setting, and innovative approaches
- Builds future orientation that expands significantly during middle childhood