Teach Kids to Think, Discuss, and Build Character with 3 Easy Sentences

Do you ache to know if you're parenting well? Haveand feeling.
your kids gone underground with their thoughts and2. Listen carefully to what your child is saying and isn't
feelings? Do you feel cut-off?saying.
The most important job you'll ever have is parenting.3. Appreciate your child's best thoughts. Avoid
To parent well, you need to know what your kidsdenying his/her feelings.
are thinking. If their thinking is crooked, their4. No criticism. Empathize instead.
characters will be too. Let's see how to straightenWhat's next? Teach your child 3 easy sentences to
crooked thinking by viewing its power to createtell him/herself in difficult times. You'll be more
character.effective if you use these sentences out loud
Thinking Creates Character:before, during, and after diffficult times in your own
1. Thinking sways feelings.life. Make sure your child hears these sentences
2. Feelings sway behavior.often:
3. Thinking, feelings, and behavior create character3 Easy Sentences:
My toastmaster friend, Mike, presented a contest1.Things aren't terrible or awful.
talk entitled "The Invisible Box." With his arms2.This is just inconvenient.
extended, he drew an imaginary box about 7' high3.Things don't have to go my way.
and 3' wide. Next he stepped inside and shut itsThink about it. Awfuls and terribles don't really exist.
invisible door. Mike said that too many people liveThings are the way they are. The trouble starts
inside their invisible boxes. How does this apply towhen we use awful and terrible to describe the
your kids?difficult events in our lives. This is extreme thinking
1. The invisible box is the place where they nurseand it is negative.
their hurts and grudges.Teach your child that difficulties are just inconvenient.
2. The invisible box is the place where their negativeInconveniences are not terrible and awful.
attitudes fester.Finally, things don't have to go their way. Teach your
3. The invisible box is the place where they makechild to accept the reality that he/she is not the King
multiple excuses and hide.or Queen of the universe. If they were they could
Could this already be happening in your child's mind?make things go their way. They'd have the power.
Certainly! What can you do? Listen for words like:Accepting that things do not have to go their way
- Nobody likes me.frees them from hiding inside the invisible box. Being
- I can't do it.free helps them face the challenges in their lives with
- It's too hard.a positive attitude.
Suppose your child tried to make the select soccerTake the time to discuss your child's thoughts and
team. Your child's best friends made the team butfeelings. Teach your child to use the 3 easy
the coach didn't choose your child. Now your childsentences with their 3 simple and deep meanings.
shuts down, won't go out to play, and steps into theYou'll be helping your child step outside the invisible
invisible box. What can you do?box. You'll be parenting well. You'll be building
Discuss the Problem with Your Child and:character too.
1. Probe gently. Find out what your child is thinking