Teach Children To Persist Try This . . .

Raising 21st Century Kids
MG
P21
POSITIVE ATTRIBUTE No. 1
P e r s i s t e n c e
Teach children to persist
Try This . . .
P U T T I N G
I T I N T O P R A C T I C E
Michael Grose
To promote persistence in your children
try the following four strategies:
The ability to persist at a task and see it through
to the end is one of the most important success
1. Develop a v o c a b u l a r y for persistence.
skills that you can teach a child.
Terms like Hang Tough, Work Hard and
There are numerous times every day when
Hang In There need to be part of their
children must persist rather than give in. A
every day vocabulary.
toddler learning to tie shoelaces must persist. A
primary aged student must show determination
2. Point out to children when they stick at a
to finish tasks and a secondary student needs to
task. Let them see when they have been
work through difficulties, particularly those he
persistent and that persistence generally
doesn’t understand or complete right away.
pays off.
They need to be able to persist when work gets
3. Help children to remember times when
hard or life gets tough. They need the
they experienced success by HANGING IN
‘stickability’ to work through difficulties and
when they were younger.
hang in there when things don’t go their way.
children
of
opportunities
to
develop
persistence.
4. Talk about HARD WORK with your children.
Some children are more naturally predisposed
They need to understand that to be
to persist than others. They have a determined,
Parents
can
promote
persistence
by
even competitive streak in their temperament
successful they need to do things that are
encouraging their children to keep going and
that doesn’t allow them to give in. These
not give in at the slightest hurdle or difficulty.
NOT fun or easy. While it would be good if
children and young people can drive
all work and learning was fun, in reality,
themselves very hard to succeed.
Parents can be a sounding board for children’s
this is not always the case.
gripes but they should show confidence in their
Parents and teachers can develop persistence
ability to cope and get through their difficulties.
in children. Research suggests that persistence
“You can do it” is far more powerful in terms of
is a temperamental factor that can be improved
promoting an attitude of persistence than “If it is
Action Plan
over time.
a little too hard then try something else.”
Just as adults can promote persistence they
Let children know that there is a correlation
can also impede its development by making life
between effort and success. In fact, they need
First Step . . . .
too easy for children so that they don’t have
to learn that by GIVING EFFORT they will more
opportunities to persist or hang in there.
than likely experience more success.
Parents who allow children to stop work when it
The ability to persist in the face of difficulties
Next Step . . . .
gets too hard, stay home from school for a minor
maybe an old-fashioned quality but it is one of
reason or give up on a sport because they are
the best success attributes that children will
not succeeding straight away are not doing
ever develop.
their children any favours. They are depriving
For more ideas about promoting persistence
in children visit www.parentingideas.com.au
What’s your child like?
How persistent is your child?
than face challenges?
Yes 0 No 2
Quote
DOES HE
5. Never give in when playing a game or sport?
Yes 0 No 2
‘Persistence and patience have a
1. Stick at a task until it is completed, no matter
what?
Yes 2 No 0
SCORE:
magical effect before which difficulties
2. Become easily distracted by others when he
10:
A tough type. You have a terrier on your
disappear and obstacles vanish.’
has a task to complete?
hands. Can be hard on himself.
Yes 0 No 2
6-8: Hangs in there. Maybe he has a balanced
John Quincy Adams
3. Complete lengthy assignments on time?
attitude.
Yes 2 No 0
0-4: Gives in easily. Needs to be reminded to
hang in there.
4. Make excuses for difficult situations rather
p a r e n t i n g i d e a s . c o m . a u
Published by Michael Grose Presentations Pty Ltd. Ph: 1800 004484 Fax: (03) 5983 1722 Email: office@parentingideas.com.au PO Box 167, Balnarring 3926 Australia
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