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Friday, August 28, 2015

How do you build good habits?

My 11 year old asked me this the other night at bed time.  She's been getting upset with herself for not doing the chores that we ask of her.  She wants to do them, but is the type of kid that gets distracted.  I struggled with this for a moment, thinking of all the bad habits we have as adults that take virtually no effort to form.  Good habits on the other hand take consistency and focus, two things that are foreign to many 11 year olds (and adults, for that matter).  I then suggested two jars, one empty, one full of mables (representing intentions to stay focused).  Each time she did a task that could lead to a good behavior, she moved a marble.  If a day went by without a good habit, she'd move it back.  There are now 4 marbles in the previously empty jar.  Good habits according to her:
  • cleaned her room
  • kept her room clean
  • kept her room clean, again
  • didn't get upset when coach yelled at her during practice (took it as constructive criticism)

Not sure if there had been more, i.e.  they had a short life in the good habit jar before returning to inventory of intentions jar; but proud of her for taking ownership of this and anxious to see if it lasts beyond the first 2 weeks of school.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Terms and Conditions

Could resist capturing this moment.  My 11 year old had a homework assignment to get a library card.  I sat beside her, knowing that I'd have to help her complete the application since she was under 18.  The first step was accepting the terms and conditions, a step that, as an adult, I'd typically scan with the specific intent of finding the check box to mark and continue.  My daughter, however, took the application process very seriously and thoroughly read the terms and conditions associated with obtaining a library card.  It was a proud parent moment, first because my daughter took this process seriously, and second... because I kept my patience and didn't scream 'just check the box!'