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Belonging
The condition of Belonging means that a child feels he or she is a valued member of the family, while still maintaining his or her uniqueness. It is a relationship between two or more persons characterized by a sense of connection and support. A sense of Belonging is a necessary condition for a child’s feeling of wellbeing, social engagement, and competence. The condition of Belonging increases intrinsic motivation, for it fosters selfconfidence and investment in the family, school, and community. As a parent, you have the opportunity to establish a culture of Belonging in your family, one that promotes your children’s sense of wellbeing, connection, and selfbelief.
Heroes
Heroes are the everyday people—friends or family—in a child’s life who inspire him or her to excel and to make positive changes in attitudes and lifestyles. Heroes are those your children can connect with, those who have a positive influence on them, and who listen to and value their ideas. Heroes build trust in others and belief in oneself. As a parent, you are a hero to your children. They can look up to you as someone to learn from and communicate with about many things. Building relationships with your children through support, guidance, and encouragement enables them to become more confident in their life and school.
Sense of Accomplishment
The condition of Sense of Accomplishment recognizes effort, perseverance, and citizenship as signs of a child’s success. People have traditionally used a narrow view of accomplishment that refers to academic achievement, innate ability, or who is “best in the class.” Sense of Accomplishment, however, is viewed in terms of personal growth and effort, not just through measurable outcomes and countable successes. As a parent, you have the opportunity to celebrate your children’s accomplishments in visible ways. Taking time to recognize and support your children’s efforts will result in children who are motivated to persevere through difficult tasks and to create a healthy family through hard work, dedication, and love.
Fun & Excitement
The condition of Fun & Excitement is characterized by children being inspired. They are actively engaged and emotionally involved in things they do. Children who exhibit Fun & Excitement are usually selfconfident, curious, and prepared; they are willing to meet the challenges of the day. Parents who foster Fun & Excitement provide new opportunities, initiate challenges, and respect individual interests. After the first three conditions—Belonging, Heroes, and Sense of Accomplishment—are established, you can motivate your children through a fun and exciting family environment.
Curiosity & Creativity
The condition of Curiosity & Creativity is characterized by inquisitiveness, eagerness, a strong desire to learn new or interesting things, and a desire to satisfy the mind with new discoveries. Curiosity triggers children to ask “Why?” while creativity gives them the initiative to ask “Why not?” The intensity of Curiosity & Creativity tends to diminish over time due to the habituating effects of the environment. Therefore, as a parent you must pay careful attention to creating a home environment that promotes questioning and creative exploration in order to maintain your children’s motivation.
Spirit of Adventure
The Spirit of Adventure is characterized by a child’s ability to take on positive, healthy challenges at school and home, with family and friends. Children experience the Spirit of Adventure when they tackle something new without the fear of failure or success. As a parent you can encourage and support your children’s Spirit of Adventure by urging them to explore new things. By creating an atmosphere that allows for healthy decision making and healthy risk taking, children become more confident and resilient. Children with the Spirit of Adventure see life as full of opportunities worth exploring for their own sake.
Leadership & Responsibility
The condition of Leadership & Responsibility means children are able to express their ideas and are willing to accept consequences for their actions. It cultivates accountability for the home environment and community. When children speak their opinions, they need to accept the consequences of doing so. Fostering leadership allows children to make just and appropriate decisions and to take pride in their actions. Parents who promote this condition teach good decision making and expect their children to be good decision makers. They provide legitimate decisionmaking opportunities, seek their children’s input, and expect them to be accountable for their actions and words. Children are trusted to make the right decisions and are recognized for doing so.
Confidence to Take Action
Confidence to Take Action is the extent to which children believe in themselves. It encourages them to dream about their future while being motivated to set goals in the present. This condition is what we strive for; all other conditions must be established and supported for a child to attain this level of aspiration. Confidence to Take Action is characterized by a positive and healthy outlook on life and by looking inward rather than outward for approval. Parents have the ability and potential to help build their children’s Confidence to Take Action by providing support, celebrating diversity, and encouraging independent thinking. By enhancing the quality of personal growth, parents encourage their children to become active and involved members of their family. |