I use the Fishful Thinking's activity called Letting Go of Grudges to help my boys. It is a great why to teach optimsim. I scale back the activity to help my younger boys by only making 5 to 6 circles - so they are not overwhelmed by this important activity. Please give it a try. Copy and paste the link below to get directly to the activity.
Here is what the activity entails:
On a piece of blank paper, draw a circle in the center of the page and record a few words that capture the essence of the situation that caused your child to hold the grudge (e.g. Maggie went to Sarah’s house instead of coming with me to the movies.) Then, fill the rest of the page with blank circles – 15 or more. The object is for your child to fill each of these circles with a word or phrase that describes:
something about the person for which your child is grateful – something he/she said, did, etc.
something important to your child about the relationship – small things, big things, current things, historical things
something about the person or relationship that brings your child happiness
After you and your child have filled in each of the circles, use the questions below to discuss what your child has experienced through this activity.
How have your feelings changed about the person and situation?
What positive aspects of the relationship and person do you now remember?
What, if anything, might you want to say to the other person?
What, if anything, do you want to do about the situation?
I hope this works as well for you as it has for me. It definately puts things in perspective. It can even been used by adults/parents - maybe it will help you let goe of grudges.
http://fishfulthinking.repnation.com/Log.ashx?a=2&i=413&r=4763d707-5829-405d-b922-d8a3310fd862
Monday, November 30, 2009
Nesquik Mad Libs- Give them a try!
Give these Nesquik Mad Libs a try and relive your childhood. They are so much fun.
NESQUIK MAD LIB ONE
Early one (INSERT NOUN), (INSERT NAME) opened the gate to (HIS/HER) house and unknowingly embarked upon a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) adventure to find (HIS/HER) Happy Place. Barely out the yard, (INSERT NAME) saw perched on top of a big (INSERT NOUN) a particularly cheerful NESQUIK Bunny.
"(INSERT VERB) with me, I will lead you to your Happy Place!" said the NESQUIK Bunny (INSERT ADVERB).
(INSERT NAME) and the NESQUIK Bunny followed a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) path through a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) forest. Birds were chirping in the (INSERT PLURAL NOUN) (INSERT VERB) along a neat dirt path.
As they were walking, (INSERT NAME) grew thirsty and asked the NESQUIK Bunny to help (HIM/HER) find a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) stream to drink from. “Never fear, I have just the thing to make you feel better!” exclaimed the NESQUIK Bunny.
The Bunny (INSERT VERB) an ice-cold NESQUIK, and (INSERT NAME) drank the delicious drink and immediately felt refreshed. (HE/SHE) had reached (HIS/HER) Happy Place!
(INSERT NAME) and the NESQUIK Bunny spent the rest of the day (INSERT VERB) through the forest, and upon returning home, (INSERT NAME) fell sound asleep.
NESQUIK MAD LIB TWO
(INSERT NAME) was (INSERT VERB) though the (INSERT NOUN) one day when (HE/SHE) (INSERT VERB) upon a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) flock of (INSERT NOUN).
(HE/SHE) (INSERT VERB) and looked up at the (INSERT NOUN) and declared “I will one day be the (INSERT ADJECTIVE) (INSERT NOUN) on Earth!”
A (INSERT NOUN) swooped out of the (INSERT NOUN) and announced (HIS/HER) (INSERT NOUN). Suddenly, the NESQUIK Bunny appeared on the (INSERT NOUN). Was this a mirage? (INSERT NAME) could hear a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) voice (INSERT VERB) though the (INSERT NOUN).
It called out to (HIM/HER) in a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) tone: “Why did you choose to (INSERT VERB) here when you could have (INSERT VERB) (INSERT NOUN) in comfort and enjoyed a delicious NESQUIK?”
(INSERT NAME) was dumbfounded. How was (HE/SHE) to respond to such a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) question? Regardless, (HE/SHE) countered by (INSERT VERB) “It is true that I absolutely love (INSERT NOUN). I do wish that I had (INSERT VERB).”
The (INSERT ADJECTIVE) NESQUIK Bunny burst into (INSERT NOUN) and (INSERT NAME) woke up with a start.
“What a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) dream,” (HE/SHE) thought!
NESQUIK MAD LIB ONE
Early one (INSERT NOUN), (INSERT NAME) opened the gate to (HIS/HER) house and unknowingly embarked upon a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) adventure to find (HIS/HER) Happy Place. Barely out the yard, (INSERT NAME) saw perched on top of a big (INSERT NOUN) a particularly cheerful NESQUIK Bunny.
"(INSERT VERB) with me, I will lead you to your Happy Place!" said the NESQUIK Bunny (INSERT ADVERB).
(INSERT NAME) and the NESQUIK Bunny followed a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) path through a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) forest. Birds were chirping in the (INSERT PLURAL NOUN) (INSERT VERB) along a neat dirt path.
As they were walking, (INSERT NAME) grew thirsty and asked the NESQUIK Bunny to help (HIM/HER) find a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) stream to drink from. “Never fear, I have just the thing to make you feel better!” exclaimed the NESQUIK Bunny.
The Bunny (INSERT VERB) an ice-cold NESQUIK, and (INSERT NAME) drank the delicious drink and immediately felt refreshed. (HE/SHE) had reached (HIS/HER) Happy Place!
(INSERT NAME) and the NESQUIK Bunny spent the rest of the day (INSERT VERB) through the forest, and upon returning home, (INSERT NAME) fell sound asleep.
NESQUIK MAD LIB TWO
(INSERT NAME) was (INSERT VERB) though the (INSERT NOUN) one day when (HE/SHE) (INSERT VERB) upon a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) flock of (INSERT NOUN).
(HE/SHE) (INSERT VERB) and looked up at the (INSERT NOUN) and declared “I will one day be the (INSERT ADJECTIVE) (INSERT NOUN) on Earth!”
A (INSERT NOUN) swooped out of the (INSERT NOUN) and announced (HIS/HER) (INSERT NOUN). Suddenly, the NESQUIK Bunny appeared on the (INSERT NOUN). Was this a mirage? (INSERT NAME) could hear a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) voice (INSERT VERB) though the (INSERT NOUN).
It called out to (HIM/HER) in a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) tone: “Why did you choose to (INSERT VERB) here when you could have (INSERT VERB) (INSERT NOUN) in comfort and enjoyed a delicious NESQUIK?”
(INSERT NAME) was dumbfounded. How was (HE/SHE) to respond to such a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) question? Regardless, (HE/SHE) countered by (INSERT VERB) “It is true that I absolutely love (INSERT NOUN). I do wish that I had (INSERT VERB).”
The (INSERT ADJECTIVE) NESQUIK Bunny burst into (INSERT NOUN) and (INSERT NAME) woke up with a start.
“What a (INSERT ADJECTIVE) dream,” (HE/SHE) thought!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Great resource for parenting positive kids
I just wanted to share this wonderful website with all positve parents. It is great and I am active member. It is sponsered by Goldfish crackers. It is focused on the following (which I copied from their website):
Kids today experience a great deal of stress and confront complex challenges. For most parents it’s hard to know how to best help them through these difficult times. Luckily, parents can learn simple ways to teach kids the skills that shape a positive attitude, enable them to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
Pepperidge Farm has been committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle for over forty years by offering parents wholesome snacks made with no artificial preservatives. The Goldfish® brand partnered with Positive Psychology leader and mother of four, Dr. Karen Reivich, to create Fishful Thinking. Fishful Thinking is a program for parents that helps them to raise children who have a positive attitude and can confidently tackle life’s challenges.
Fishful Thinking is comprised of five Key Ingredients:
Optimism: Focusing on the positive things in life.
Emotional Awareness: Expressing and controlling your feelings.
Goal Setting/Hope: Finding ways to achieve your goals.
Resilience: Coping with life’s ups and downs.
Empowerment: Identifying and using your strengh
Please check out the website below. They are a great resource and have wonderful downloads and ideas.
http://fishfulthinking.repnation.com/Log.ashx?a=2&i=361&r=4763d707-5829-405d-b922-d8a3310fd862
Kids today experience a great deal of stress and confront complex challenges. For most parents it’s hard to know how to best help them through these difficult times. Luckily, parents can learn simple ways to teach kids the skills that shape a positive attitude, enable them to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
Pepperidge Farm has been committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle for over forty years by offering parents wholesome snacks made with no artificial preservatives. The Goldfish® brand partnered with Positive Psychology leader and mother of four, Dr. Karen Reivich, to create Fishful Thinking. Fishful Thinking is a program for parents that helps them to raise children who have a positive attitude and can confidently tackle life’s challenges.
Fishful Thinking is comprised of five Key Ingredients:
Optimism: Focusing on the positive things in life.
Emotional Awareness: Expressing and controlling your feelings.
Goal Setting/Hope: Finding ways to achieve your goals.
Resilience: Coping with life’s ups and downs.
Empowerment: Identifying and using your strengh
Please check out the website below. They are a great resource and have wonderful downloads and ideas.
http://fishfulthinking.repnation.com/Log.ashx?a=2&i=361&r=4763d707-5829-405d-b922-d8a3310fd862
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