Category — Discipline

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.

If children live with shame, they learn to be guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.

If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and others.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

By Dorothy Law Nolte - Author of Children Learn What They Live

In their Beginnings Workshop article, “Managing Challenging Behaviors: Adult Communication As a Prevention and Teaching Tool,” (Exchange, July 2005), Tom Udell and Gary Glasenapp observe that the manner and quality with which adults give directives and verbally interact with young children can make a big difference in the kinds of behaviors exhibited by those children. Here are some of the guidelines they offered for providing verbal guidance to minimize challenging behavior . . .

“Avoid using questions you do not mean to ask. Use question statements only when you truly intend to provide a choice. A direct request such as, ‘Jason, please wash your hands,’ is preferable to ‘Jason, will you wash your hands before snack?’

“State requests and directions in a positive manner. Asking a child to ‘Walk in the classroom’ is more positive and more clearly understood than ‘Don’t run.’

“Avoid repeating requests and directives. Repeating directives can become troublesome because children quickly learn that they are not expected to respond the first time they are given a direction. Adults do not want to inadvertently teach children that it is okay to ignore requests that are made of them.”

From ExchangeEveryDay

Determination.  ”Stick with it, regardless.”

Honesty.  “Speak and live the truth–always.”

Responsibility. “Be dependable, be trustworthy.”

Thoughtfulness. “Think of others before yourself.”

Confidentiality. “Don’t tell secrets.  Seal your lips.”

Punctuality. “Be on time.”

Self-control. “When under stress, stay calm.”

Patience. “Fight irritability.  Be willing to wait.”

Purity. “Reject anything that lowers your standards.”

Compassion. “When another hurts, feel it with him”

Diligence. “Work hard.  Tough it out.”

by Charles R. Swindoll from Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life