Wednesday October 20, 2010
Sometimes we adults make it harder than it needs to be when working with children. To bring out the best in children and teens, expect the best.
In our afterschool programs and at our wellness workshops, we ask young participants to be our partners and to act like young men and young women. If they start to lose focus or a case of the "uncontrollable sillies" breaks out, we give them a moment to compose themselves either with the group or away from the group. We don't admonish them, plead with them or get angry with them, we simply ask them to remember what we are here to do and redirect them back to the task at hand.
The response is usually a full recovery and a sense of self-confidence that they are responsible for their own behavior. There's also the re-affirmation that we believe in them and care about their feelings.
Funny, but bringing out the best in the kids also brings about the best in us...or is it the other way around.
Richard Waxman
President/Founder
LIFT and Levántate!
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