Are You Awesome? A Child's ResponseI recall working with two boys on their reading comprehension. One of the boys noticed one of the keys to success that I had posted on the wall above me. He asked me what the key meant. The key had the words, "You are Awesome!" on it. I asked him if he was awesome. He shrunk back and sheepishly said, "No I don't think so." The other boy who was with him also said that he, himself was definitely not awesome. I was so surprised by not only their words but their body language as both boys became so much smaller.
After playing with them a bit on asking some questions about what would make a person awesome and what were their specific gifts, both boys were able to state with confidence that, 'Yes I am Awesome!" repeatedly in my presence. One boy talked of his gift of knowing all about dinosaurs and how proud he was of all that he knew about them, especially after I shared that I knew only a little about dinosaurs. The other was keen on his gift of drawing and how he could make stories of his drawings. It was a joy to see them expand out of their smallness and into the awareness of their own greatness. As soon as mom showed up, things went back to being small and they saying that they weren't awesome. Interesting huh?
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Secrets to School Success Another summer is quickly fading and fall will be emerging shortly. This means another school year for many kids will start soon. I have heard parents give out a sigh of relief that their kids will be returning to school after having them under foot for the summer months.
And while parents may be ready, I wonder how many kids are not as excited to go back to school. Even when some parents think about it, they too wonder what this school year will hold for their child. School brings about different challenges for different kids. For some it is a constant reminder that they don't measure up to other kids. They are constantly comparing themselves to others and when they don't it puts them in a place of having to either agree that they just aren't as good as others or they have to resist it and prove that they are and this will show up with rebellious behavior. Either way, the child isn't free to just be him/herself. Some children dread going back to school based on their past experiences. Maybe their last teacher didn't support them and now they have a fear about their up coming teacher. Of perhaps your child is one of those that gets picked on by other kids causing added stress. School is not only a place of academic education, it is also a place of social interaction and when a child is introverted, different and unsure of him/herself this brings up added anxiety. So what can a parent do to assist their child to having more success in school both academically as well as socially? |
Mary Dravis-ParrishMary shares her desire to create different possibilities for families and individuals who are looking to live a more conscious and aware lifestyle. BE YOU Parenting is for parents who want to BE all that they truly BE and to allow their kids the same privilege. Archives
November 2019
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