Mrs. Drew, Gifted Specialist
Timberline Elementary PAT Class
Today is: Tuesday,13 May,2008 09:26:07 PM
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FROM THE DESK OF
Trisha Drew
GIFTED SPECIALIST

        Teaching children the value of self-control is an important issue for parents today. I was reading an article about this issue and wanted to share what I have learned.
        Higher levels of success have been documented by students who demonstrate high levels of self control. In comparison with students with impulsive behaviors, the self controlled students scored 200 points higher on SATs and were rated higher on social competence and dependability. The ability to say no to something good today for the sake of something better tomorrow is crucial to your personal and professional success. Psychologists refer to this as the willingness to delay immediate gratification.
        The good news is that self control is not an inborn trait, but a skill that can be taught and nurtured at an early age. Here's what you can do.

TALK ABOUT SELF CONTROL
Don't lecture your children on the issue but give them strategies to use to reward themselves for self control. Teach them how to organize their time with a reward for good time management.
REWARD DELAYED GRATIFICATION
Acknowledge your child's efforts at drills, practice for team sports, homework and let them know you appreciate their willingness to work hard toward a goal that does not have immediate consequences.
MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR
Verbalize your own strategies of self control. For example you might want an ice cream cone right now but you tell your child you are not going to eat one today because you would like to lose weight, so you are not even going to keep ice cream in the freezer.
TALK ABOUT WHAT STRATEGIES YOU USE TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Tell your children something like you have planned to watch less TV this year so you are going to walk around the block three times before you can sit down to watch TV.
LET YOUR CHILD SEE THE HUMAN SIDE OF YOU
Tell your child how you sometimes struggle and fail at self control...maybe you did not walk around the block last night as you promised, or you ate an ice cream cone when you should not have...let them know that you won't quit when you hit a bump in the road but will start again and try to do better.

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