By Cynthia Klein, bridges2understa.wpstagecoach.com
Your family is a web of relationships and an important place to learn how to relate with consideration, respect and cooperation. Research shows that parents have an important role of modeling and influencing their children’s ability to successfully relate to others. So, rather than focusing on how to control your children focus on how to teach your children to get along with each other. Support and information are available so you can learn any positive parenting skills that were not modeled to you when you were a child.
During the outing, observation, detective and quick thinking skills are essential. Pay attention to your children’s cues that they are going “off-track”. They may become inflexible, irritable, combative or uncooperative. Rather than forcing compliance to “get with the program” you will be more effective and everyone happier if you take time to stop and reflect. What are they really asking for or needing with this behavior? Do they need rest, food, a limit set with listening, to run around outside for a while or maybe it’s time to leave? With practice and continual self-reflection, you will become effective in predicting the storms, riding them out and creating the finishing touch of a Rainbow Memory.
Here is a partial checklist of preparations and parenting knowledge which are important for creating a successful outing. The more “Yeses”, the brighter your rainbow will glow. Read part 3 for your check off list.
Cynthia Klein, Certified Parent Educator, bridges2understa.wpstagecoach.com, builds adult-child cooperation.
