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Heart of the Texas Triangle 7
Catch Them Doing It Right

-Reggie Joiner

Several years ago, our team was didn’t do, then you run the risk of • I can tell how hard you
asked to design a program to help creating an inflated ego like Gaston worked... (It will encourage
public schools teach kids character. in Beauty and the Beast. them to develop responsibility)
One of the tools we provided was a ESTABLISH A PATTERN • I bet one day you will...
“Value-able” card to award a child I know a mom who used dinnertime (It will encourage them to find
with free ice cream when they did once a week to tell her kids something hope.)
something that demonstrated respect, positive she had noticed in them that • I like hanging out with you
responsibility, or kindness. We gave week. One of her sons secretly told because... (It will encourage
out enough cards, so teachers could me it was his favorite time of the them to value relationship.)
catch every kid doing something week. That’s because most of us crave • You have helped me learn...
right at least once a month. But at affirmation at some level. Sometimes (It will encourage them to show
the end of the first month, 90% of it helps to establish routine times respect.)
the cards had not been given out. when you know you will have a • You can add your own, but here’s
We realized that a lot of teachers, consistent opportunity to affirm your the point:
much like many parents, were so kids. That doesn’t mean it has to feel
programmed to correct kids’ behavior routine. It just means you will create a Start being intentional and
that they had never learned how to rhythm for complimenting your kids use words over time to affect the
pro-actively acknowledge positive to make sure that it actually happens direction of your kid’s future.
behavior. So, the next month, we frequently. Author: Reggie Joiner is the Founder & Submitted by: Drew Allen, Student
included a few tips to help teachers CEO of Orange. His mission in life is Pastor at FBC Mexia.
look for specific ways to catch kids STRETCH YOUR VOCABULARY to partner parents & churches in an
doing it right. These Value-able cards Words are more powerful than effort to better lead their children.
became one of the most used tools most people imagine. So, what we
in the character education program. say to our kids over time really does
Teachers loved giving them and kids matter. If you are not a verbal person,
loved getting them. Here are a few of try using a starter phrase. The right
the tips that we have learned working phrase can keep you from getting
with teachers and parents who want stuck and never saying anything at all.
to help kids know how to reinforce Hallmark has built an entire industry
positive behaviors. around the idea.

BE SPECIFIC Here are a few phrases to get you
It’s easy to say something general to started. Just add a personal or specific
a kid like, “you have a great attitude” sentence and practice motivating
or “you’re a good student.” But when a and encouraging your kids to keep
compliment is too general, it doesn’t moving in a positive direction. Put
mean as much. Kids want to know these somewhere (like on your phone
you care enough about them to notice or computer) where you will see them
specific things they do. So, take the and use one of them each day of the
time to point out something that is week.
definitive, especially if you hope they
will repeat it. • You have really improved ...(It
will encourage them to keep
ACKNOWLEDGE EFFORT growing.)
Look for ways to praise kids for • I love the way you... (It will
improving in an area or because they encourage them to celebrate
worked hard at something. When you their uniqueness.)
encourage effort or determination, • I noticed how you... (It will
you are helping them build a strong encourage them to demonstrate
work ethic. Don’t just compliment character.)
for compliment sake. When you • Thank you for... (It will
compliment your kids for just being encourage them to express
“great” kids or for things they really gratitude.)