Community Magazine March 2016

ositive ARENTING TAMMY SASSOON Style SPIRIT & FORTHEWOMANOFTODAY b î Éå =^ Çìä í ë =k ÉÉÇ q ç=_ É=j ç í á î ~ í ÉÇ b î Éå =^ Çìä í ë =k ÉÉÇ q ç=_ É=j ç í á î ~ í ÉÇ b î Éå =^ Çìä í ë =k ÉÉÇ q ç=_ É=j ç í á î ~ í ÉÇ Love = Attention + Affection What is Attention? What is Affection? L ove consists of two factors: attention and affection. Parents must offer both in order to produce healthy feelings of love in children. When you give proper attention and affection, you provide children with a strong foundation, which helps them to foster healthy relationships throughout their lives. A ttention is being both sensitive and responsive to a child’s needs. The needs can range from a child needing to reach something on a high shelf, to needing to have his or her feelings validated, to being fed when hungry. If the child feels that when he or she needs something the parent or teacher takes that need seriously, then he knows that he will receive the proper attention and ultimately feels loved. A ffection is the physical and emotional warmth we give to our children. It is the most powerful way we communicate our love. Hug and kiss your children for as long as they feel comfortable with it. If your children have reached an age where they are uncomfortable with you hugging and kissing them, find other ways to fulfill their human need for affection. Give them high fives, play-wrestle, put your arm around them, etc. Remember, children who get healthy doses of affection are able to give love more readily to others. The Greatest Teacher Fortunately, I am acquainted with a lot of excellent teachers. But there is one particular teacher who stands out in my mind as being known for her amazing classroom management skills. Even when she taught the most difficult children, she has always managed to motivate them to listen. I heard all about her and wanted to learn her secret to getting these difficult children to cooperate. So I sat in the back of her class a few times. Her secret was simple, yet profound. This brilliant teacher runs her entire class on love. She makes each child feel like ten million dollars. She smiles at them, sending them a message that she is happy to see them. She also leaves personal notes on their desks, hugs them, and plays board games with them during recess. They love her back, so they listen to her. Human BeingsWere Created to Love Love makes a strong impression. Children remember the times they received love and the times when they did not. Even as an adult, I am sure that it’s easier for you to cooperate with people who make you feel like they like you. Homework: Think back to who your favorite teacher was, and decide what he or she did to convey messages of true concern for you. Copy that style of communication with your own kids at least once a day. Feeling loved decreases opposition. Children who feel loved are far more likely to listen to their parents. Think back to when you were a child. You responded to teachers that you felt warm feelings towards, and didn’t respond to teachers who did not make you feel loved. When I speak to children about being compassionate, I start off my conversation by asking them if they remember something really nice that a teacher once said to them. Most children are excited about sharing something positive that a teacher said to them. After a child shares the episode, I ask, “How many years ago was that?” Then the child says, “One, three, four, ten, etc.” I then ask that same child what he ate for lunch last Tuesday. He usually laughs and says, “I don’t remember!” Then I counter with, “Aha, you remember when a teacher did something kind to you four years ago, but you can’t remember what you ate last Tuesday.” Then I continue to ask the child if he or she remembers a time when a teacher said something not so nice to himor her. Usually the child will make a face and nod. I then ask howmany years ago it happened. Again, they answer with, “A year ago,” or “Three years ago,” etc. I proceed to ask them if they remember what they wore last Monday. Of course no one remembers. It is at that point that I explain to the student the everlasting effects of being kind and compassionate. I go on to tell them that our souls are wired for kindness and giving, and that is why our souls remember acts of love and acts of non-love, but do not remember petty things like lunches and outfits, even if they were eaten or worn more recently. You can do this mental exercise yourself. Think of teachers who made you feel loved or unloved, and think of howmotivated you were with each one. Tammy Sassoon is a behavioral therapist and parenting coach. She gives live workshops as well as “train by phone” telecourses to teachers, principals, therapists, and parents, in order to help them gain compliance from even the most oppositional children. She can be contacted through her website, www.tammysassoon.com. HowWill Your Children Benefit fromLove? 52 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE