- 3 Keys to Moving Beyond a Yucky Mistake - January 25, 2021
- Coaching Love for Sport Using a “Hero Not Zero” Approach - October 6, 2020
- What Would Your Report Card Say? - September 24, 2019
August in our family is usually filled with a frenzy of cramming in the last fun activities of summer, trips to the water, camping, school supply shopping, getting new running shoes, and organizing the girls’ wardrobes.
It also comes the excitement and trepidation of a new school year.
Maybe one of the kids is transitioning to a new school… Maybe there were concerns about the friendship dynamics last year and you and your child are hoping for a better year socially… Maybe your child struggles with their grades, and you hope that your child is paired with teachers that are a good fit.
As a high school teacher for almost 2 decades, I understand all of the anxiety and excitement that precedes going back to school.
And I often reflect that the things we think might be helpful to say to our children at this time are not necessarily the most helpful. The words even ring hollow to our own ears as we tell our kids that “Everything will be fine!” Or “Just try to get along with everyone, ok?” Or “I’m sure that you will make friends this year, I just know it.”
So what can we do instead?
I suggest having this conversation with your child instead. It goes a little something like this:
Hey honey. The new school year is coming up. You are going into a new grade!
Will you take a little bit of time to go through a special exercise with me that I think can make this coming school year great?
Okay – thank you!
First of all, close your eyes.
Now take a deep breath.
Imagine that your school is actually a “Superhero School”!
Can you picture it?
What would a Superhero School look like? Describe it:
How would it smell? Tell me:
What kind of sounds would you hear? Tell me about them:
How would you feel going into that school every day? Describe some of your feelings.
And what kinds of things would you see happening at a Superhero School?
Give me some more examples of things that might happen here. What else? And what else? (Just a tip: people often come up with their best thoughts when they are asked a question inviting them to expand for the third time so the two “What else?” questions are really key here. For more on this, see Michael Bungay Stanier’s The Coaching Habit.)
I love all of your ideas!
A Hero School sounds like a place where there are opportunities every day to practice courage and make a positive difference for others while developing your Superhero Powers.
Wouldn’t it be cool to go to a Hero School?
Imagine if you could make your school your own Superhero School!
Imagine that the moment you step onto school property, your Superhero Powers activate and every day, they grow stronger.
With this simple conversation, you have framed any challenges that may come up this school year as solvable, because your child is developing into a Superhero! What better way to prepare your child for their best year yet in school?
Look for next week’s post: The Superhero Talk: Help Your Child Approach the School Year with Confidence, which will set out how to to take this talk to the next level. The only thing your child is going to need after this is their very own Superhero costume! (Given the warning in The Incredibles – we’ll leave it up to you whether you opt for the cape!)
Post a comment below to let us know if your children are nervous and excited about the new school year and if you have any great strategies for helping them get ready for that exciting first day of school! We would also love to hear how it goes when you give this conversation a try!
If you liked this article, check out:
Recent Comments