Supporting Your Kids

Identify your needs as well as your kid's and discuss ways you can support each other.

Successful students are a result of parents, children, and friends supporting one another's needs.

- Check in with each other about needs being met.
- Use creative problem solving to meet needs.
- Involve kids in the making of ground rules.
- Make final decisions together.

Congratulate and Celebrate
Praise can be a very powerful tool for parents. Begin by identifying strengths in your child and then celebrate and praise those strengths.

Achievement
You can assist in developing your child's self-image and motivation simply by focusing on the positive aspects. Refrain from negative comments about your child's failures and celebrate his/her successes.

Process
There is always a process we go through to end up with a final product. Remember to celebrate and praise the 'process' which tells your child the process itself has value. This is also a great time to comment to a struggling child, "I admire the way you are trying so hard."

Identity
It's great to receive praise for what they have done, yet sometimes praising children for who they are is forgotten. Celebrate who your child is and give affection at times apart from any action or achievement. Your children need to know they are valued for who they are, not for the way they meet your expectations or follow house rules.

Improvement
Be aware and alert for signs of growth in your child. Speak in a positive manner of the improvement you are observing. Your child is working hard to improve. Make sure y our child knows you noticed.

Success
Focusing on previous successes is very powerful when your child is discouraged. Help your child recall an experience that was very successful. Encourage your child to visualize achieving goals and being successful.