Hundreds of experts agree: It pretty much boils down to this.
1. Let your kids fail.
To learn self-sufficiency, kids need to occasionally dust themselves off (literally and figuratively) without your help. “Most parents know what their children are capable of but step in to make things easier for them,” says Sheri Noga, the author of Have the Guts to Do It Right: Raising Grateful and Responsible Children in an Era of Indulgence. Remember: Long-term benefits—a teenager who knows how to do her own laundry, for example—trump momentary discomfort. Before you rush in to help with any physical task, ask yourself: “Is my child in real danger?” Then—and this applies to other challenges, like the social studies poster due tomorrow—think about whether your child has the necessary skills (dexterity and balance) or simply adequate sleep and a snack. Yes? Time to back off and see what happens.
2. Abide by the three rules of homework.
Number one: “Eat the frog,” says Ted Theodorou, a middle-school social studies teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. That’s shorthand for “Do the hardest thing first.” Rule number two: Put away the phone. Homework time can’t be totally tech-free (computers, alas, are often a necessary evil), but it can at least be free of text messages. Rule number three: As soon as assignments are finished, load up the backpack for tomorrow and place it by the door. This is a clear three-step process that kids can internalize, so there’s less nagging from you. (Yes!)
3. Memorize the acronym H.A.L.T.
Tantrums often happen because the thrower is Hungry, Agitated, Lonely, or Tired.
4. Plan not-so-random acts of kindness.
Kids need to know that helping others is an everyday practice, not a visit-a-soup-kitchen-at-the-holidays grand gesture. Challenge yours to complete small tasks every week, like throwing away another kid’s trash at lunch or raking a neighbor’s lawn. Training your children to focus on others helps curb entitlement. “Gratitude becomes woven into who they are,” says Jeffrey J. Froh, a coauthor ofMaking Grateful Kids.
by MindMake via MindMake Blog
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