--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing that is most important is…" description: "\"The thing that is most important is having people who are involved and engaged with the kids and also are not stressed and can be involved with them. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/alison-gopnik-4163_actually_the-thing-that-is-most-important-is-havi_2455142.jpg" --- # The thing that is most important is having people who are… ![“The thing that is most important is having people who are involved and engaged with the kids and also are not stressed and can be involved with them. And that's actually not boring and banal. That actually takes a lot of work to make that happen, and it's not something that our society does very…” quote by Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/alison-gopnik-4163_actually_the-thing-that-is-most-important-is-havi_2455142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/alison-gopnik-4163_actually_the-thing-that-is-most-important-is-havi_2455142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/alison-gopnik-4163_actually_the-thing-that-is-most-important-is-havi_2455142.jpg) > “The thing that is most important is having people who are involved and engaged with the kids and also are not stressed and can be involved with them. And that's actually not boring and banal. That actually takes a lot of work to make that happen, and it's not something that our society does very well at all.” [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engaged, unstressed adults are essential for meaningful interaction with children, requiring effort that society often lacks. **In simple terms:** Involved adults benefit kids. Key Takeaway Invest effort to reduce adult stress for kids. Themes education parenting stress management Mood concerned optimistic Type educational practical When to use this quote - classroom settings - family activities - community programs - null Key Concepts developmental psychology social policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we support adult involvement? - What policies reduce adult stress? A Different Perspective Societal structures may hinder stress reduction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [But there's no substitute for a full-time dad. Dads who are fully engaged with their kids overwhelmingly tend to produce children who believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/but-there-s-no-substitute-for-a-full-time-dad-dads-who-are-fully/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Why does anybody want to be famous? You know what's important to me? Having lunch! Pasta! Seeing my friends! 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