Page was raised in a home with no TV, where academics were considered a cornerstone of a child’s future but not to extent it overshadowed the importance of child-driven learning. In their early years, Page and her siblings enjoyed countless hours of play, engaged in a wide variety of experiences, and actively explored, tinkered and experimented with many different ideas. Outside the formal classroom, Page’s love of learning and passion for helping others was easy to observe from an early age. Formal classroom learning was a different story. It was frustrating and full of failures.
Even though Page put in extra hours studying, her test scores and other work never showed how much she actually knew. After graduating from Lakeside School, it was off to college. That lasted one year. Her grades were horrible and a college professor told her she was smart but there was something wrong with her. She did not know how she learned or that how she learned was different from others. It would not be until later in her adult life that she would come to discover and understand her unique way of learning.
Her saving grace were activities and opportunities that happened outside the formal classroom. Through these activities, especially her medical explorer post, she would meet influential people who gave her opportunities. As a result of these opportunities she eventually found herself employed as a Medio-Legal Investigator in an urban Medical Examiner’s office. With her investigative strengths, a love of medicine, and compassion for human-kind Page excelled in this position.
In her early 30’s Page was blessed with children and became a stay-at-home mom. Because she never really felt understood by anyone, her parenting style was to seek to understand first by asking questions beginning with “Why is…” or “Why does…” rather than questions beginning with “How do I…” or “What do I…” Seeking to understand by listening to behaviors, observing the children at child-led play, and offering a multitude of different experiences Page and her children developed close trusting relationships. This was how she knew what to do when her son struggled in preschool – remove him.
In seeking to understand, Page discovered both her and her son’s brains are wired differently. While their learning styles and strengths have differences, both fall under the “dyslexic label.” This lead to an unexpected but very successful eclectic homeschooling journey.
Learning from her own experiences, she encouraged and supported an innovative, explorative and linguistically rich home environment for her children. As they grew older she encouraged connections that focused on their chosen interests and strengths that had positive generational role models. These connections, experiences and opportunities were the catalysts for child-directed, child-motivated post K-12 paths that eventually lead to self-chosen fulfilling careers in environments that support who they are.
For over twenty years, Page has brought her unique style of listening and observing children to a wide variety of activities including instructing at and writing interactive hands-on learning curriculum for a natural horsemanship school for kids; pony day camps and birthday parties; involvement in Cub Scouting from starting or helping to start three cub scout packs – one for which she received the District Award of Merit, planning and directing summer day camps, and training cub scout leaders; and since 2004, she has volunteered her time with a non-profit fire-based historical organization where she is past-president, helped start and staff a museum, put together a power-point presentation on the Great Seattle Fire, and for the last seven year has coordinated a free public Seattle Fire Festival event.
In 2016, she co-authored with Brian Tracy, an Amazon best selling book, in three categories, titled “Success Manifesto”.
Page enjoys the outdoors: hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and exploring historic sites.
A love for animals lead her to rescue horses, dogs and cats. At present she has two horses, one dog and three barn cats. She is also enjoying delving in to her genealogy.
Do you know that more that 60% of parents want more than anything else for their children to be happy? Our Declaration of Independence even states we have the right to the pursuit of Happiness. The challenge is that appearing happy on the outside does not mean we are feeling happy on the inside. Page Olson, the Happiness of Pursuit Wizard will discuss why parents are missing the boat when they focus on making their kids happy – the #1 thing over 60% of parents want for their kids. She will explain the profound and positive difference a messy and not always outwardly looking happy, “happiness of pursuit” has on a child’s attitude towards themselves and life in general. And why this matters for the long term health, happiness and success for each individual.
The parent trap – Parent Assumptions – beliefs – and behaviors and how they impact their child’s emotional well-being and happiness
Happiness – what is it and why is it so elusive – the difference between the pursuit of happiness and the happiness of pursuit and why it matters
The three “E’s” of childhood (exploration, experiences and experimentation) and why they matter
How our over abundance of technology is killing our children’s happiness and what we can realistically do about it
A parents greatest gift to their child – its not happiness (connection)
What children of today need that children of yesterday had and how we can give it back to them.
Why we don’t need to teach perseverance, and self-motivation and what we need to do instead
Yeti Microphone, beats ep headphones
I am also open to evening interviews Monday through Saturday.
If you use a method of interview I have not indicated above I am willing to take what ever action I need to to be available for your show.