This guest post is from Tim Smith at Smile Therapy.com!
Here is a extremely simple yet powerful tip to help improve relationships, and build character. It works for adult interaction as well as parents conversing with kids.
The concept:: Share Gratitude(Thanks).
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
-William Arthur Ward-
The formula: Name + Thank You + Specific Action + Appreciation
Examples:
-Your son picks up the toys without being told. Use the gratitude formula by simply saying:
” Eric, thank you for picking up your toys. I really appreciate it.”
-Your wife makes you a delicious dinner. Again use the simple formula.
” Martha, thank you for working hard on a nice home cooked meal. It hit the spot, and I really appreciate it.”
-Your daughter Jenny vacuumed the room without being told.
” Jenny, thank you for vacuuming up the floor. It looks great and I really appreciate it.”
This is SO SIMPLE and could be applied to almost anything someone does nice for you. Share your feelings. Show appreciation. If you haven’t noticed it, people are starving for appreciation. Compliments come like tugboats. Complaints, like arrows out of a bow.
As far as the kids go, you are teaching them appreciation, acknowledgement, and respect. All character building traits.
TRY IT!!
Special thanks to: Jean Tracy, a fellow S-T’er who provided this info. She really has a great material and I recommend all parents and teachers check it out ( www.KidsDiscuss.com)
If you liked this article get more Radical Parenting in our new book: Do I Get My Allowance Before or After I’m Grounded?
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