Is goal-setting scary for your child? Does she need a boost? Inside you’ll find 5 parenting tips and 3 questions to help your child erase negative pictures, create positive ones, and move toward success.
Children Move toward Their Pictures:
The pictures in your child’s mind
determine whether she’ll reach for the stars or give up without trying. How can you motivate your child to achieve success? How can you teach her to stamp out negative pictures? Below is a method that’s easy, fun, and bonding.
5 Parenting Tips for Boosting Goal-Setting Pictures:
Spend private time each week with your child.
Tell her a story about a kid who’s afraid to try new things.
Ask questions that help your child express her opinions.
Listen more than speak.
Pay attention to the pictures in her head.
Boost Your Parenting Skills by Creating Stories Like This One:
Pretend you know a girl named Angela. She’s supposed to give a book report in front of her class. On the day of her book report, Angela tells her mom she’s sick. Her mom knows it isn’t true and sends her to school. Right before giving the book report, Angela hurries to the nurse’s office where she rests until recess. She misses giving her book report and recovers in time to play.
If the above story sounds too much like your child, create a different story. You don’t want her angry because you tricked her.
3 Character Building Questions for Changing Negative Thoughts into Positive Goals:
What negative pictures do you think Angela imagined when she thought about giving the book report in front of her class?
What positive pictures does Angela need to imagine in order to successfully give the book report?
What advice would you give Angela for reaching her positive goal of giving her book report?
Take time to discuss each question. Listen and encourage. Appreciate your child’s positive pictures.
Bravo! You’ve helped your child see how negative pictures hold kids back. You’ve helped her realize that positive pictures help kids achieve. Don’t be surprised if your child loves your story time together. Use such stories weekly. Watch her move toward goals with a winning attitude. She’ll be building character too.
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If you'd like to copy this advice, please include the following:
Jean Tracy, MSS, publishes a Free Parenting Newsletter. Subscribe and receive 80 FREE activities to share with your kids.
If you liked the above parenting tips pick up Free Parenting Tips - 21 of the Best at http:www.KidsDiscuss.com . You'll find them at the top of the page.
KidsDiscuss.com offers Parenting Resources. Pick up the Goal Setting Kit and watch your kids achieve.
(May 2007) (
