CLASSROOM LESSONS:
Kindergarten: In this week’s lesson, your child learned two important reasons for paying attention: to learn and to stay safe. Ask your child why they think it’s important to pay attention during different activities, for example, when listening to information or instructions, when helping out with a task, or when crossing the street with you.
1st Grade: In this week’s lesson, your child learned that a distraction is something that takes their attention away from something else. They learned different ways to manage distractions, such as reminding themselves to focus, turning away from the distraction, changing places, or politely asking someone to stop a distracting behavior. When you need to pay attention or focus on a task at home, ask your child to suggest some ways you can manage distractions.
2nd Grade: In this week’s lesson, your child learned that mistakes tell us something’s not working and that they can respond to mistakes by asking for help, trying again, or making a small change to keep going. Ask your child what a mistake tells them and what they can do to keep going after a mistake.
3rd Grade: In this week’s lesson, your child learned that every time they practice a new skill, the brain gets better at sending the messages for that skill. Ask your child to explain what happens in their brain when they practice.
4th Grade: In this week’s lesson, your child’s class worked together to make a good plan to reach their two-week goal. Ask your child to describe their plan to reach their class goal. What will they do? What will they need? Who can support them? Tell your child about a time when you made a plan to reach a goal.
How To Teach Kids To Say Sorry
(Adapted from Positive Parenting Solutions)
How do we teach kids to say sorry in a meaningful way? While forcing kids to apologize in the heat of the moment often makes parents feel better, it does little to help children truly understand the effects of their misbehavior. Instead, put the “sorry” on standby and–when everyone is calm and collected–follow these steps:
1. Lose the Lecture
Ask questions to help your child understand their emotions and actions. Start with, “What were you feeling when you ripped John’s paper in half?” This helps to teach that they should take responsibility for their emotions and that while it’s okay to feel mad, sad or frustrated, the action that resulted was not. Next, tie that feeling and action to the effect it had on the other person. “How do you think it made your brother feel when you tore up his homework?” By using questions, you can help your child understand the feelings that triggered the bad behavior and give them tools to respond appropriately next time.
2. Pass on Punishment
Instead of throwing down the gauntlet, take a deep breath and focus on solutions to make amends. Start by asking, “What could you do to make it right?” A verbal apology is a great start, but since children learn best through action, it’s good to pair it with an act of kindness, like helping fix what was broken or drawing a fridge-worthy picture for the injured party.
3. Role-Play the “Re-do”
Give your child the opportunity to make a better choice next time. “If you could do things over, what would you do differently?” Give them time to think and then brainstorm constructive ways to handle their emotion, then role-play them together. Your kids are more likely to use these positive tactics next time if they’ve had the chance to practice them first, with you.
Final Thoughts
Although it may be hard initially, putting some much-needed time between the misbehavior and its apology will lead to a considerably more sincere “sorry.” You’ll find your kids better understanding their actions, taking responsibility, and developing the empathy needed to learn from their mistakes. And that’s worth the wait!
