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February 2006
In Tribes this month we are learning the
life skills of perseverance, responsibility,
friendship, and integrity. The first week of
February, we will learn how perseverance is
working hard even when we don’t feel like
it. The second week, we will be discussing
responsibility, or to respond when it is
appropriate and to be accountable for your
actions. The third week, we will discuss
friendship, followed by integrity in the
fourth week. Integrity is having a sense of
right and wrong, even when no one is
looking.
How does a parent teach Lifeskills
at home??????
Perseverance - If they want
something, let them work for it. They will
appreciate it so much more! Let them set
goals and feel the awesome sense of
intrinsic accomplishment. Questions such as,
“Did you do your best?” and “Are you proud
of your work?” encourage them to have
intrinsic motivation. Let them experience
hard work AND disappointment.
Responsibility - Let your kids
accept responsibility for their actions even
when it is hard to watch! Natural
consequences are much more effective than a
lecture. Let them pick up after themselves.
Let kids learn to remember what they need
for school by asking them, “What do you need
for school today”, rather than just telling
them. Let your kids respect authority by
encouraging them to follow rules even if you
don’t see the point, maybe there is a good
reason. Let kids make choices within limits
whenever it is appropriate. Children are
more confident and secure when they have
limits.
Friendship - Let your kids have
unstructured playtime with friends. Let them
solve their own conflicts, and resist the
urge to get involved. Yet, give them tools
to handle certain situations as they come
up. Encourage them how to choose friends,
make friends, and treat their friends.
Spending time with friends is an integral
part of a child’s development. Working out
conflicts with friends is practice for real
life.
Integrity - Prepare them by
telling them that others might make fun of
you for doing the right thing, but they will
respect you. Be a good sport. Don’t blame
others. Be happy for the other guy. Play
fair. Let them lose, it makes winning so
much sweeter!
Thank you for all the love and support
you give your children! It is obvious that
Eisenhower parents are teaching the next
generation these Lifeskills, which makes our
jobs so rewarding!
Melanie Heil
Counselor Counselor's Corner
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