Okay, I bet I got you thinking…what’s the CQ up to talking about “SUCCESS” and summertime in the same sentence?
Yup, it’s kinda funny to think of summertime as a time when you want to encourage success, but it’s so filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and explore beyond the classroom.
So I ask you dear reader to think about what summertime success would look like for your child. Then ask your child what a successful summer would look like for them? You may even want to get some art supplies and get creative with this.
I imagine there are quite a few differences, and lots of opportunities for learning from each other.
Here’s the beauty of this exercise- both of you have a visual creation of what’s important, and from here you can begin negotiating the differences.
Your kiddo wants more electronics time and you want more reading time, look to find a way you can both get your needs met, and teach the art of compromise.
They want to go a sports camp with their friends, and you want them to join the academic camp, how can you come up with a compromise and create a win:win?
Life is all about negotiating differences, learning to communicate your needs, and how to be flexible when things don’t go your way.
Now that you and your child have an agreement on what a successful summer looks like, be a detective and collect evidence of positive moments.
As you’ve heard me mention before, Dr. Rick Hanson talks about Taking in the Good, and savoring positive moments.
Here are some ideas to savor summertime success:
*Take Instagram pictures of summertime success moments (both your definition and theirs)
*Create a Wordle (word cloud) with key phrases or words that describe your child’s
summer of success
*Make a collage of words and images depicting their summertime goals
*Put together a scrapbook or Smashbook of summer highlights (need some inspiration
search Pinterest for ideas)
*Make a summer movie and include a highlight reel from key moments of summertime
success
* Get creative and ask your kiddo to come up with ideas to celebrate their successes!
Need help negotiating differences and create a win:win with your child? We hear you! Join us on the upcoming International Parents and Professionals Community Support call “You Can’t Make Me: Effective Boundaries and Follow Through for Motivating Kids! Practical and positive strategies to build cooperation, responsibility, and mutual respect with children” Click here to learn more
Tags: how child to be flexible when things don’t go their way, learn to communicate needs, learning to be positive, teaching kids to negotiate differences
