a10d ("attend") helps kids own their attention and develop the skills, mindsets and relationships they need to flourish in a media rich, AI-driven world.
Adolescence is an age of incredible opportunity–a period of cognitive, social, and personal growth that sets the trajectory for the rest of kids’ lives. Today, young people are building that foundation in a media-rich, AI-driven world that’s faster, lonelier and more distracting than ever. Efforts to protect, limit, and ban digital media alone can't prepare kids to flourish in this context.
Kids need well informed guidance and real, enriching experiences with one another in order to take charge of their attention, navigate their world, develop human connection and build agency, identity and belonging. Families struggle to provide all of this on their own, and most schools are not equipped to provide this support.
That’s why we started a10d.
a10d is an in-person group that young people belong to. Kids show up for each other, face-to-face.
Kids team up for engaging activities designed to uncover new ideas. At-home challenges help them apply what they discover to their lives.
Trained older teens from the same community help run each experience, alongside an adult facilitator.
Our Youth Advisors and nationwide community help us shape every activity, support, prompt and feature.
WHY NOW
It's how we engage in the world around us, choose to spend our limited time, and nurture the relationships that sustain us. And right now, it's under siege.
in the amount of daily time young people age 15-24 spend socializing face-to-face over the past two decades.
U.S. teens already use AI chatbots every day for companionship, schoolwork, and making decisions, and this number is growing quickly.
The average person now stays on one task for only 47 seconds before switching, down from 150 seconds two decades ago.
HOW IT WORKS
a10d is a program kids can do as part of a school, youth center or a local a10d club. Once a month, the group gathers to take part in a live a10d session. In between, kids receive challenges to keep learning on their own. Learn more about a10d program design.
Parents, teachers, coaches, and youth leaders can start a chapter anywhere: within a school, as a new club, or at a youth center or place of worship. We provide the curriculum, training, platform, support and materials needed to implement and run the program.
Kids meet once a month. They team up on a novel activity that uncovers a new a10d concept. Activities draw kids right in—think obstacle course meets design-and-build challenge meets escape-room puzzle meet community action—each month is memorable and really fun.
Between sessions, kids continue learning through short videos and activities designed to help them and their families apply a10d concepts and skills to daily life. Fun ways to attend to themselves, other people they care about, and their broader community.
Kids get to know themselves, their peers and their world on a deeper level. They develop critical skills and mindsets over 24 months, as they move through quests from “What’s attention?” to “How do I protect it?” to “What will I carry forward?” Graduates can step up to become mentors.
a10d's progressive curriculum is built on three core pillars, with a thread of AI and media literacy running throughout. Each month is designed to help kids explore and build both understanding and skills around a key concept.
How can I understand and control my own attention, overcome attempts to co-opt it, and direct it to fully experience life and reach my goals?
How can I build trust, navigate tension, repair ruptures, create shared meaning and solve important problems with others?
How can I know better and express who I am, exercise agency in my choices, find belonging in community, and envision directions I could take?
What are the critical thinking skills, habits and mindsets I need to thrive in a media rich, AI-driven world.
Phones down. Eyes up. Here's what happens when a group of tweens & teens gets a mission at an a10d session. They walk away more connected and better agents of their own attention.
GET STARTED
Maybe you're a parent who wants to rally local families to start an a10d group. Maybe you're a teacher, principal, librarian, coach, or you run a club or youth center. However you’d gather kids, you can bring a10d to your community. Complete this form to apply for our pilot, join the waitlist, or just learn more. We can't wait to connect with you!