365 Ways to Raise Confident Kids: Activities That Build Self-esteem, Develop Character and Encourage Imagination

by Sheila Ellison

Overview

Inspiring and insightful, 365 Ways to Raise Great Kids will help you accomplish what all parents want: to raise bright, caring, honest, respectful and creative children. In this important book, you will find a concrete, activity-based guide for nurturing and building life skills in your children that will enrich them and your entire family. Illustrated by children.

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402252440
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	04/01/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	416
File size:	17 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dedicated mother of four, prolific author, founder of community youth and mentoring programs and nationally recognized speaker on successful parenting, Sheila Ellison is the consummate mother of the millennium. Her advice has been helping more than 400,000 parents creatively feed, play with and raise their children. Ellison created and coauthored the 365 series of parenting books, including 365 Days of Creative Play and 365 Foods Kids Love to Eat.

Barbara Ann Barnett is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay area, and is the mother of an adult son. It is her great hope that this book will contribute to the psychological health of families around the world, with special benefits to the children.

Read an Excerpt

Getting in the Mood
Feelings come and go in 15 to 30 seconds, but moods can last for days. Everyone knows what it means to be in a good mood or a bad mood. But we don't always understand how our mood affects those around us; it can actually create a good or bad feeling in the home. Have fun dramatically acting out first a bad mood, then a good mood. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and everyone act out a bad mood: being judgmental, noncompliant, hostile, withdrawn, mopey, sulking, righteous, etc. When the timer rings, everyone switch to acting out a good mood for 15 minutes: being helpful, attentive, generous, sweet, happy, caring, energetic, pleasant, patient, etc. Discuss what it felt like to create these moods. Then discuss what it felt like to be around others with different moods.

Cleaning Game
Pick a day for everyone to do chores together. You will be amazed how fast you can clean a house when you do one room at a time, with each person doing their part. Make it fun by hiding a few pieces of candy before you start. Every once in a while blow a whistle, ring a bell or simply announce "treat time." Then, everyone can hunt for the treats and enjoy them together.

Sending Little Love Notes
What a wonderful surprise to wake up in the morning to a message of love. Before you go to bed tonight, write a little love note to your child and leave it on the breakfast table where it will be read in the morning. Write about something you noticed they did well that day, and tell them how much you love them.

Table of Contents

Part One: About Yourself
Self-Esteem
Self-Motivation
Resourcefulness
Separate Time
Imagination

Part Two: Express Yourself
Feelings
Communication
Touch

Part Three: About Others
Caring
Friendship
Respect
Cooperation
Open to Change
Manners
Community Building

Part Four: Building Character
Courage
Truthing
Patience
Tolerance
Helpfulness
Responsibility
Discipline
Forgiveness

Part Five: Challenges
Times of Trouble
About Death

Part Six: Family Matters
Family History
Mom
Dad
Parent to Parent
Siblings
Older to Younger
Family Meetings

Part Seven: Having Fun Together
Fun & Games
Humor
Traditions