Positive Concept Activities

Activities you can do with your child to help develop a positive concept
by Leona Novy Jackson

Put photographs of your child on the refrigerator or another viewing area at a child’s height. Display artwork done by the child.

Keep a photo album of your child’s early years. Sit together and talk about how the child has grown and how important he/she has been to your family.

Have a sketch or actual layout of your family tree. Explain how your child fits into the picture.
Measure your child’s height on a chart. Write the date and keep a running tally of his/her growth.

Play the sentence completion game. Let your child dictate to you his/her thoughts and ideas on:
I am happiest when...
I am good at...
I am getting better at...
I wish I could...
My friends like me because I...
Read his/her words back to him/her.

Examine the kind of “warm fuzzies” you have exchanged during the week. Warm fuzzies are things done or said to make a person feel good.
Example of warm fuzzy: “You picked up all your toys. Good for you!”
Cut out small squares of fuzzy material and place them in a box. Each person reaches into the box and pulls out a fuzzy. Exchange warm fuzzies with each other by telling something good about the other as you give away a fuzzy.

Share with your child the successes each of you have experienced during the day. Help your child understand that he is learning and succeeding every day.

While singing a song or reading a story, insert your child’s name.

Read books aloud to your child about ways of handling feelings and emotions. Your child will be more apt to accept him/herself when he/she hears about others having similar problems, worries, and conflicts. Discuss the situations with your child.

Spend regular, special time with each child. This could be a certain time each day, or regularly scheduled during the weekend. Each child needs to know that he can count on a specific time set aside for him alone.