SAMPLES


MegaSkills® Moments: MOTIVATION


Allow children, and call upon them, to express their opinions.   Hear what they have to say and listen without having them fear interruptions or disapproval.


A conversation at the family dinner table, giving your children an opportunity to speak, helps shape children’s views of themselves. 


Children who’ve been seen and not heard during the early years often need extra encouragement to break out of learned patterns of reticence and passivity.

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When a child has a task to do and adequately finishes it, say “It’s fine.”  Try not to mention minor flaws. 


When a task is not finished, say, “You haven’t completed the job.” Explain why.  Leave the room so that your child can finish.  Come in again and find something specific to praise.  When needed, show your child how to complete the job.  Then, let your child finish the task.

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MegaSkills® Moments:EFFORT


“As parents, we recognize that we have important responsibilities in helping our child achieve school success.”  Say this to yourselves. “Regardless of my own educational background, whether rich or poor, I know that I have strengths and I am ready to help my child.


“I will identify at least one strength and one ability that my child possesses.


“I will do at least one MegaSkills activity with my child everyday.”

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Being self-disciplined means we do what we have to do without other people reminding us. 


When children help with dinner and don’t argue about little things, they’re showing consideration for their parents at the end of the work day.


As parents, we show self-discipline when we keep promises and when we resist getting easily irritated with children and “put them down.”


No one expects us to be perfect all of the time.  Yet, self-discipline is worth working for.  


Effort is hard to measure.  What one person can complete with ease requires another to exert extra time and energy.  Parents can help their children learn to work hard and to feel good about really doing their best.


Ask children to tell you about their successes – getting to the top of the playground slide for the first time, tasting a new food, making a new friend.


For some children, these may be very easy activities.  For others they are significant accomplishments that take a lot of effort.