| MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Katy C. Merrell, MEd. |
| February 2010 "Resolve" to be Positive in 2010 |
A belated Happy New Year to all! January gives
many of us time to “recover” from the holidays, but it
can also bring pressure to make resolutions for the
New Year. By February you may not have kept the one
you were hoping to finally tackle…but no matter how
you are doing, the mere exercise of making resolutions
tends to focus us on our shortcomings. Mentally we
begin listing what needs improving and almost never
stop to make a list of all our positive attributes and
accomplishments.
Let me suggest a second try at the resolution
game, one that includes resolving to celebrate the
things you do like about yourself and those around you.
This is often very hard for people to do. As teachers
we are trained to use and are constantly reminded of
the power of positive reinforcement. The old saying;
“You can draw more flies with honey” is true no matter
how old you are. Everyone loves to be thanked,
reminded that they are doing a good job, or
celebrated for a particular act, ability, or
achievement. With young children it is especially
important to be specific about your praise, as in “ Erin,
I really liked the way you used your words to ask
Justin for a turn “ vs. “Good job Erin”. Perhaps the
many of us time to “recover” from the holidays, but it
can also bring pressure to make resolutions for the
New Year. By February you may not have kept the one
you were hoping to finally tackle…but no matter how
you are doing, the mere exercise of making resolutions
tends to focus us on our shortcomings. Mentally we
begin listing what needs improving and almost never
stop to make a list of all our positive attributes and
accomplishments.
Let me suggest a second try at the resolution
game, one that includes resolving to celebrate the
things you do like about yourself and those around you.
This is often very hard for people to do. As teachers
we are trained to use and are constantly reminded of
the power of positive reinforcement. The old saying;
“You can draw more flies with honey” is true no matter
how old you are. Everyone loves to be thanked,
reminded that they are doing a good job, or
celebrated for a particular act, ability, or
achievement. With young children it is especially
important to be specific about your praise, as in “ Erin,
I really liked the way you used your words to ask
Justin for a turn “ vs. “Good job Erin”. Perhaps the
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| “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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NORFOLK CHILDREN'S SCHOOL, 23 Union St., Norfolk, MA 02056 508-528-1970
Copyright 2010 Norfolk Children's School
Website Design by Karma Communications
Website Design by Karma Communications
best gift you can give yourself and those you love, adults and children alike, is to sit down
and make a list of each person’s wonderful and unique attributes, talents, etc. ( at least
ten, but the more the merrier, and don’t forget the little things!!)
At school we make a point to phrase comments and directions as positively as possible.
It is amazing what a difference it can make when you use positive, hopeful phrases
rather than negative ones in communicating with children (adults too!!). Here are some
examples:
- “Please use your walking feet” vs. “NO running”
- “Please use your inside (or regular talking voice)” vs. “NO yelling”
- “If you had FUN- you WON” ! vs. focusing on winners & losers
- “Let’s think about a BETTER CHOICE” vs. using the words like bad or naughty
(words we should never use with young children!)
- “You get what you get and you don’t get upset” vs. “Don’t whine” or “You can’t
always get your way”.
- When they have a great idea we tell kids to “Kiss your brain”!
It’s so easy to see what’s wrong. We notice when our children are fighting with each
other, but do we really notice when they are getting along and make a point to thank
them? I hope we can resolve, each day, to celebrate at least ONE positive thing each
about ourselves and our loved ones. That’s a resolution we should all be able to keep!
Resolutely,
Katy C. Merrell MEd.
and make a list of each person’s wonderful and unique attributes, talents, etc. ( at least
ten, but the more the merrier, and don’t forget the little things!!)
At school we make a point to phrase comments and directions as positively as possible.
It is amazing what a difference it can make when you use positive, hopeful phrases
rather than negative ones in communicating with children (adults too!!). Here are some
examples:
- “Please use your walking feet” vs. “NO running”
- “Please use your inside (or regular talking voice)” vs. “NO yelling”
- “If you had FUN- you WON” ! vs. focusing on winners & losers
- “Let’s think about a BETTER CHOICE” vs. using the words like bad or naughty
(words we should never use with young children!)
- “You get what you get and you don’t get upset” vs. “Don’t whine” or “You can’t
always get your way”.
- When they have a great idea we tell kids to “Kiss your brain”!
It’s so easy to see what’s wrong. We notice when our children are fighting with each
other, but do we really notice when they are getting along and make a point to thank
them? I hope we can resolve, each day, to celebrate at least ONE positive thing each
about ourselves and our loved ones. That’s a resolution we should all be able to keep!
Resolutely,
Katy C. Merrell MEd.