Does your Child have everything she needs for School? You might have forgotten something…

You’ve got the new Rucksack, the Stationary…you even queued up to get her young feet measured so they would develop properly in her School shoes. But have you thought about what else you’d like her to develop this School year?

Here are some of the things she might need this term and how to help her develop them.

A “Growth Mindset”

To know that even if she can’t do something right now, it doesn’t mean she won’t be able to do it forever. She can learn, practise and get better at it. Any progress is good progress. And to focus on the positives in life.

How? When she says she can’t do something, tell her she can’t do something YET and help her to imagine what it will be like when she can.

Self Confidence (or “Positive Self Esteem”)

To know that whatever others think or say about her, she’s a valuable human being with her own gifts and talents that are and will be useful, now and in the future. To notice for herself what she does well, where she’s been kind or thoughtful regardless of her academic achievements.

How? Get her to reflect regularly on what she’s enjoyed doing or tried hard to achieve, regardless of the result. Also to notice where she was kind or thoughtful or made someone smile.

Resilience

The ability to keep going, keep trying and persevere even when things get tough – to keep a goal in mind and follow her dreams. And to know she can handle anything that comes her way.

How? Teach her to label something going wrong a “challenge” for her to learn from rather than a disaster. Tell her how strong and capable she is…even if she doesn’t seem it just yet. The most powerful words in the English language are “you are” and “I am”.

And perhaps most importantly…

A positive body image

– acknowledging all that the body does for her regardless of its shape or size. How it helps her to enjoy her life, get stronger, play with her friends and be creative.

How? Get her to think about or discuss parts of her body (her eyes, hands, legs etc) and what how they help her to watch TV / play outside / play with her favourite toys or stroke her pet.

Why does it work? A child forms habits and beliefs about herself and the world around her up to the age of 7 and beyond, but most powerfully up to the age of 7. If you can instil positive beliefs about who she is, what she does and how she can be happy, she will take those beliefs and values with her for life. Forming a habit of this positive thinking will also become a life-long tool for her with practise.

If you’d like your 4-8 year-old child or Grandchild to develop these skills as a habit that could last a lifetime, then share the techniques embedded in the story book “Daphne and the Smiley Shells” regularly with a child you love and notice how you both grow…

Get your copy here, and join the Facebook Group “Daphne and the Smiley Shells 5-Day Challenge” to find out more…