| I love this quote by Mother Theres,"There is | | | | the fact that you think hes untidy? |
| more hunger for love and appreciation in this | | | | There are actually three types of appreciation |
| world than for bread | | | | because there are three ways the brain |
| In a management survey I read recently 88% of | | | | processes information - visually, auditory or |
| people who left their company said they didnt | | | | kinaesthetically. |
| receive enough acknowledgement for the work | | | | Visual children like to feel appreciated by things |
| they did and felt unappreciated. I found that | | | | they can see like, cards, certificates, plaques or |
| percentage to be staggeringly high but not really a | | | | cups - things they can keep and put up on the |
| surprise. | | | | wall to remember and cherish. |
| I remember when I was a teacher working with | | | | Auditory children like to hear appreciation so |
| a colleague getting her classroom ready for | | | | verbal praise and the warm tone in your voice |
| Parents Open Day, as the Headmaster walked | | | | and the words you use mean a lot to them. |
| in. He chatted for a while and really praised the | | | | While kinaesthetic children love to be hugged, |
| displays on the wall but pointed out that there | | | | have their hand held or their hair tussled to feel |
| was some blu-tac missing from one of the | | | | appreciated. |
| paintings and he thought it looked untidy as the | | | | If you are in doubt, use all three types! |
| left hand corner was curling up slightly. My | | | | But for this week just start to notice and pay |
| colleague was really upset when he left as she | | | | attention to the way you show appreciation |
| had worked tirelessly on her classroom for hours | | | | towards your kids - perhaps you give them praise |
| yet she only remembered the comments after | | | | in the way you like to receive it but they may |
| the word but. | | | | like to receive it in a different way and by |
| This made me ponder on the power of | | | | changing your approach you may find your child |
| appreciation in our family lives and the way we | | | | beaming at you in surprise and delight. |
| praise and encourage our children. If you spend | | | | One easy thing to do this week is simply to ask |
| most of your time being positive yet finish your | | | | your children to remember a time when they felt |
| sentences with but you negate all the positive | | | | most loved and listen to their answers carefully to |
| things youve already said to your kids and they | | | | see how they respond. Then you can work out |
| will only remember the words after your but. | | | | whether they prefer the visual, auditory or the |
| For example, I think youre brilliant at writing | | | | kinaesthetic way. |
| your own songs and playing the guitar but I hate | | | | If I asked you to name the five wealthiest people |
| it when you leave the guitar propped up against | | | | in the world or five people who have won the |
| the armchair like that and with all the wires | | | | Nobel Peace Prize or an Oscar I bet you couldnt |
| sticking out from your mike. Its just so | | | | do it. If I asked you to remember five people |
| thoughtless and anyone of us could knock it over | | | | who made a difference in your life like family, |
| or trip over them. | | | | friends, teachers or colleagues who showed you |
| What do you think your child is going to | | | | appreciation I bet you could do that really easily. |
| remember most? | | | | Make genuine appreciation part of your parenting |
| The fact that you think hes a great musician or | | | | toolkit and watch your relationships flourish. |