Direct Instruction – Teachable Moments to Build Character

Discipline strategies are an important tool to use teachable moments to build character. We should always take the opportunity to explain why our child’s behavior is wrong when we correct him. Make a habit of identifying in your own mind the value you wish to teach the child based on the particular behavior. Choose a consequence that is appropriate to teach that value. One natural consequence that we can use is to ‘make amends’. For example, dishonesty is best resolved when we confess and are held accountable. Sometimes an apology to the person wronged is enough; other times we must take action to right the wrong. Brief, but direct instruction about why we have a family rule and the underlying value we hold helps the child learn from consequences and discipline.

Source: http://childparenting.about.com/od/emotionaldevelopment/a/charactered.htm

Enjoy the video ^o^

1. Wake Up !! 
Decide to have a good day.
“Today is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !! 
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance;
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant
for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
“He who guards his lips guards his soul.”
Proverbs 13:3  

4. Stand Up!!…
For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything..
“Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good…”
Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!… 
To the Lord.
“I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!… 
For something higher.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!… 

Your Prayers.
“Do not worry about anything;
instead PRAY ABOUT
EVERYTHING.”
Philippians 4:6

Time flies!!It is coming to the end of the year already. Hope you have achieve much this year. All the best to the students that are sitting for exams and may God’s wisdom and strength always be upon your life.

It is also the time of the year that everyone will be busy flying out of Australia going for holidays/breaks. Would you please send me or your group leader your travel dates (estimated date is fine) so we can start planning for the summer break?

Besides this, we will be having an appreciation dinner (tentatively on 13 November , Sunday). Will update you soon for the details =) I hope to have all of you there and would not want to miss anyone of you. Stay tune for more info! 

On another note, we are embarking on the parables series, it will be really exciting as we watch what our in house”acting” talent can bring to this ministry.

Children do as you do. Your child watches you to get clues on how to behave in the world. You’re her role model, so use your own behaviour to guide her. What you do is often much more important than what you say. If you want your child to say ‘please’, say it yourself. If you don’t want your child to raise her voice, speak quietly and gently yourself.

Get down to your child’s level. Kneeling or squatting down next to children is a very powerful tool for communicating positively with them. Getting close allows you to tune in to what they might be feeling or thinking. It also helps them focus on what you are saying or asking for. If you are close to your child and have his attention, there is no need to make him look at you.

Keep promises.  Stick to agreements. When you follow through on your promises, good or bad, your child learns to trust and respect you. So when you promise to go for a walk after she picks up her toys, make sure you have your walking shoes handy. When you say you will leave the library if she doesn’t stop running around, be prepared to leave straight away. No need to make a fuss about it – the more matter of fact, the better. This helps your child feel more secure, because it creates a consistent and predictable environment. 

Whining: be strong. Kids don’t want to be annoying. By giving in when they’re whinging for something, we train them to do it more – even if we don’t mean to. ‘No’ means ‘no’, not maybe, so don’t say it unless you mean it. If you say ‘no’ and then give in, children will be whine even more the next time, hoping to get lucky again.

Keep it simple and positive. If you can give clear instructions in simple terms, your child will know what is expected of him. (‘Please hold my hand when we cross the road.’) Stating things in a positive way gets their heads thinking in the right direction. For example, ‘Please shut the gate’ is better than ‘Don’t leave the gate open’.

Responsibility and consequences. As children get older, you can give them more responsibility for their own behaviour. You can also give them the chance to experience the natural consequences of that behaviour. You don’t have to be the bad guy all the time. For example, if your child forgot to put her lunch box in her bag, she will go hungry at lunch time. It is her hunger and her consequence. It won’t hurt her to go hungry just that one time. Sometimes, with the best intentions, we do so much for our children that we don’t allow them to learn for themselves. At other times you need to provide consequences for unacceptable or dangerous behaviour. For these times, it is best to ensure that you have explained the consequences and that your children have agreed to them in advance.

Make your child feel important. Children love it when they can contribute to the family. Start introducing some simple chores or things that she can do to play her own important part in helping the household. This will make her feel important and she’ll take pride in helping out. If you can give your child lots of practice doing a chore, she will get better at it and will keep trying harder. Safe chores help children feel responsible, build their self-esteem and help you out too.

Raisingchildren.net

Please go to the “song video” tab.Videos of more songs will be slowly uploaded!!

Three- and 4-year-olds “live by a simple rule: Good people do good things,” says Lawrence Kutner, Ph.D., author of Parent & Child. “By lying, [a preschooler] is, in essence, protecting his ability to be loved by you.”

Older children know what a lie is but don’t consider its consequences. “[Children are] aware of the probable unpleasant consequences of [what they did] and are simply protecting themselves,” says Kutner.

What should you do if you suspect your child is lying?
* Give children alternatives to lying. For example, let them know that breaking a vase accidently won’t be treated the same as breaking it on purpose. Help them understand why lies aren’t necessary or helpful.

* Talk calmly. Focus on the child’s action-not the lie or the child. Don’t ask accusatory questions and don’t press for a confession. Just present the facts as you understand them. For children up to the age of 5, parents should just say, “I saw you do it, and that isn’t nice.” Then suggest an action that would’ve been better.

* Avoid harsh punishment. “[Harsh punishment] creates a fear of punishment, rather than an internalized belief in moral behavior,” says psychologist Paul Ekman (Why Kids Lie). Use a story such as The Boy Who Cried Wolf to help younger children realize the damage lying does. Use object lessons from the news for older children. Or talk about what the Bible says about lying (Proverbs 19:22).

* Set an example. Admit your mistakes. When children see you handle mistakes, they’ll be more able to cope with problems. And avoid telling lies yourself.

Children as young as 4 can tell deliberate lies to get out of trouble, according to researchers. But the fear of parents’ disapproval discourages them from lying.

Ninety-two percent of 5-year-olds thought it was always wrong to tell a fib. But by the age of 11, only 28 percent said they “never told a lie,” according to research.

Source: childrenministry.com

Fact 2:
A 3-year old Boy’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

Fact 3:
Fathers tend to determine the height of their child, mothers their weight.

Fact 4:
On average, a 4-year-old child asks 437 questions a day.

Fact 5:
Watching television can act as a natural painkiller for children.