Six life skills

Book Review for:

Book Title: Beyond Behavior Management

Author: Jenna Bilmes

The Six Life Skills Children Need to Thrive in Today’s World

 - As teachers, parents, and loved ones; we want children to gain respect for others around them. We want them to accept difference and be able to thrive in the world today.

 - Children learn most from imitation. BE THE ROLE MODEL in everything you teach.

Children develop and learn respect through many life’s challenges and harnesses. Especially when it comes to sharing, speaking to their peers, and holding in anger when it hits. I believe that it is our role to help them grow in respect.

                                                                                                                                                In order for a child can develop adequate respect, it is essential for the child to develop six very important life skills:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

1.    Attachment

·      A feeling of security, having all physical needs met

·      To do: give the child a hug if he/she needs it, be ready to listen when he/she talks (possible during recess), make the child feel safe in every way you can, smile when the child walks in the door, so that the classroom will be a warm place for him.

·      “I have a grown-up who cherishes me and keeps me safe!”

2.    Affiliation

·      Feeling needed in the classroom, a part of the classroom, having friends to play with

·      To do: assign roles for every child, “turn on lights,” “put scissors in place.” If child doesn’t come to school one day, make sure everyone notices that the child isn’t in school and that his role will be left undone, or maybe someone will want to do it for him? Assign children into groups if they have a hard time making friends.

·      “I can have a friend and be a friend!”

3.    Self-regulation

·      Being able to control impulses (since the child feels wanted and affiliated, he/she feels bad for behaving unwantedly)

·      To do: Have activities and through out every day, make it clear that every action will face a consequence. Also, make it clear to the children that NOT feelings control their actions but that THEY themselves have the power to control their behavior.

·      “I can manage my strong emotions and am in control of my behavior!” 

4.    Initiative

·      Being able to try something new, ask questions,

·      To do: model initiative, choose a book to read, ask child what book he/she wants to read.

·      “I am constantly growing and changing and learning new things!”

5.    Problem Solving

·      Being able to solve a problem.

·      To do: in everyday situations, model by asking, “What can we do about it?” If the classroom pet is mellow ask “what can we do?” If children aren’t getting a long ask, “what can we do about it?” Add hints like, “some people choose to share, some choose to take turns.”

·      “I can solve problems and resolve conflicts!”

6.    Respect

·      Understanding that everyone has unique characteristics and cultures

·      To do: Activities that will open children’s eyes to the fact that they are all very different and very unique; they are made to do a certain goal in life, to be successful.

·      “I have unique gifts and challenges, and so do others!”