Asset of the Month – June

The Developmental Asset for June is Planning and Decision Making.  As one of the most important life skills for success, a young person needs to know how to plan ahead and make good choices.

 For younger children:

• Encourage your child to help pick out appropriate clothing for outings.  Talk with your child about where they’re going and what they’re going to do. 
• Talk about what’s going on tomorrow.  Even everyday tasks require some planning.
• Children love to pick out their own clothes.  Too many options can be overwhelming.  A good way is to limit choices to two or three outfits.
• Remember, if you ask a child to make a choice, you have to be ready to accept what they choose.    Choose your words carefully; for example, instead of asking “Do you want to take a bath tonight?” say “It’s bath time, which toy would you like to play with in the tub?”
• Let your child help with grocery lists, packing for trips, or meal planning.  All of these will give your child a sense of being part of “the plans.”

 For older kids:

• Offer to help your kids set up a “timeline” so that long term school projects get turned in on time.  Show them that meeting deadlines sometimes requires “planning backwards.”
• Ask “what if” questions, when planning for an upcoming event.  This will help kids not only think about what needs to be done, but also identify consequences and possibilities that may result from their decisions.
• Encourage participation in long term projects, at school or in the community.  These usually require planning and coordination.
• Let the kids have a turn at being in charge.  (Scary, I know!)  Give them a turn at planning a family event or party.  Be sure they know what’s involved (guest list, budget, food and decorations), offer your help, then step back.  Even if it’s just completely taking charge of a family dinner, they’ll learn more from actually doing it than from you telling them how to do it. 
• Provide your child with a daily planner and calendar.  This way, they can keep track of homework assignments, tests, and after school activities.

 Written by Diane Rumer for Kenton County Alliance, 859-760-2051.

Comments