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January 29, 2008

Building Character ~ 3 Affirmations Kids Can Give to Parents

 

"Building Character Starts with Getting Your Kids To Talk."

Parenting Tips by Jean Tracy, MSS, for grades K-6:

Dear Parent,

You give affirmations to build self-esteem in your children, right? Your children can build self-esteem in you too. Affirmations can be a two-way street. You and your kids can say kind specific words to each other. When you do your family will blossom. Here's how it works:

Sit down with your kids, perhaps at a family meeting, and teach your children how to give you affirmations. Here are some ground rules to tell your kids:

 

  • Make sure the kind words are what you really think and feel about me and dad.
  • Make sure the affirmation is about dad's or my specific behavior.
  • Make it short.
  • Discuss why you think and feel those kind words about us.

If your child doesn't know what you mean, discuss these examples:

  1. "Mom, I like how you hug me when I come home from school."
  2. "Dad, I like when you laugh at my jokes."
  3. "Mom, I like when you hold my hand."

To get your children to discuss their affirmations ask or say:

  • Tell me more
  • Why do you think that?
  • Do you want me to do more of that? Why?

Could I be a fly on the wall when you teach your children how to give affirmations? Better yet, tell me the results in the comment section below.

If you liked these tips, consider using my family meeting book. It's designed with 52 ready-to use-family meetings. Pick it up at:

The Family Meeting Diary

Subscribe to my Free Parenting Newsletter and receive 80 fun activities to share with your kids at:

http://www.KidsDiscuss.com

Become a better parent. Send me a parenting question and I'll send you a parenting surprise. Just email your question to:

Jean Tracy's Email

With warm wishes for your parenting success,

 

Jean

Jean Tracy, MSS

 

Subscribe to our Free Parenting Newsletter at

http://www.KidsDiscuss.com and receive

80 fun activities to share with your kids.

 

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