Parents and Teachers, are your kids afraid of taking risks? Are you afraid your kids wont develop their talents? Do they hide inside the Invisible Box?

Lets learn a fun way to help your kids risk wisely, develop their talents, and stay out of the Invisible Box. In the last newsletter I described the Invisible Box. Let me refresh your memory.

My toastmaster friend, Mike, presented a contest talk entitled The Invisible Box. With his arms extended, he drew an imaginary box about 7 high and 3 wide. Next he stepped inside and shut its invisible door. Mike said that too many people live inside their invisible boxes. How does this apply to your kids?

.The invisible box is the place where they nurse their hurts and grudges.
.The invisible box is the place where their negative attitudes fester.
.The invisible box is the place where they make multiple excuses and hide.

Years ago I came across a super technique. I taught it to my granddaughters, Paula, age 7 and Daniela, age 5. It is called the Thomas Alva Edison Award. I told my granddaughters that Mr. Edison tried to invent the light bulb over 1,000 times. He didnt give up and he finally succeeded. Next, I showed my granddaughters two small plastic trophies I had picked up from the Dollar Store.

I told my granddaughters to share times when they worked hard to achieve something. Then I promised to give them the Thomas Alva Edison Award. That meant they could have a dime or ten pennies in their trophy cup each time they tried something hard. Paula, being older, wanted dimes. Daniela wanted pennies.

Even today well sit around the Sunday breakfast table. The girls know Im going to ask them, Did you do anything deserving of the Thomas Alva Edison Award? They brighten up and start talking. Lets see some accomplishments each girl achieved.

Daniela:
. Climbed a steep rock at the REI store and reached the top.
. Practiced until she could perform a backward somersault.
. Received 100 points from her teacher for doing her schoolwork quietly.

Paula:
. Learned to do a cartwheel with one hand.
. Gave a speech in front of her class.
. Figured out how to do a magic trick.

See how easy it is? Over the past two years Paula and Daniela have filled their trophies to the brim many times. We love our breakfasts with the girls. So do their parents as they listen to their daughters feats. The girls love the attention from all of us while they share their stories. It is truly a bonding experience.

Consider using this technique with your children. Theyll be developing their talents, taking wise risks, and freeing themselves from the Invisible Box. Isnt this a fun way to build character?

Jean Tracy

Jean Tracy, MSS "Granny Jean" helps parents, teachers and counselors, raise awesome kids with solid characters. She graduated from Seattle University with a degree in education. She taught elementary school in Washington, California, and Connecticut.

Inspired by her desire to help the problem children in her classes, Jean returned to graduate school. She earned a Masters Degree in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. Upon returning to her home in Washington State, she worked as a probation officer and then developed a private counseling practice with families and children that spanned 22 years. During this time she earned a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.

When asked how she developed her parenting books and products, she tells a unique story. "When I was an intern counselor in an old elementary school in Pennsylvania, I shared my office with the janitor under the stairwell. When the bell rang, the children's pounding footsteps drowned out every counseling session I ever had. The office itself had buckets, mops, and assorted cans lining the walls. The light bulb overhead swung back and forth casting creepy shadows everywhere. My counseling tools were broken down toys in a huge vinyl bag. Those toys never seemed a good way to counsel kids.

When I started my counseling practice, I looked for better skills to understand the kids I counseled. Over the years I developed fun ways to communicate with kids, to help parents help their own kids, and build character too. My unique parenting books and products are the result."

Jean Tracy, "Granny Jean" is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is also an award-winning Distinguished Toastmaster and professional speaker. Her presentations, include:

1. Build Character Now! Practical Tools for Busy Parents 2. Discipline Styles, 3 to Lose and 1 to Choose 3. Family Meetings: This Special Formula Builds Character 4. Teach Your Child Success! 1 Simple Formula, 3 Easy Steps

Granny Jean's presentations are full of stories and interactive activities that will help you as parents, teachers, and counselors build solid character in your awesome children.