I joined with a group of parents at our kids high school to form a "Community Parent Coalition." We are a group of parents who simply want a positive environment for our kids and our community. Through meetings and brain-storming sessions, I worked with the group to create the PAR Program at our school (http://www.juliancpc.org). The program is all about recognizing kids when they make positive choices, be they great or small.
Teachers fill out PAR Cards that I created and then I collect them and make posters and hang them up in the hallway at school. The kids get to see what they are recognized for. It's the hope that other kids will work to be on the next poster and that the kids that see themselves up there will continue to make good choices.
So the program has been growing and the teachers are getting on board. I have to remind them frequently via email or posters in the staff room.
I was so thrilled with the program I came up with that I realized that it does not have to only be at school. I decided to implement the PAR program at home too. This way the kids could see each day the things that they do that make us proud. I made a poster and it hangs in my kitchen. I use a different color for each child so they can see their cards right away.
They are simple things that they do that I want to recognize them for. AND GUESS WHAT? Their friends come over and LOVE IT. I don't point it out. But, let me tell you, I have been in the living room and watched a girlfriend of my daughter just read each one individually with great interest.
I also stood one afternoon in the kitchen while my son and his friend were at the kitchen Island. His friend asked what it was, my son told him and he actually said "I wish my parents would do that." It felt great to hear this 16 year old boy say that!
It is simple - it costs almost nothing and my kids see it, feel special and are reminded daily that we are proud of them.
This is a beautiful, simple, constant way to connect with your kids on a positive level. They know you took the time to recognize their efforts!
So, pick up a poster board at walmart, pick up some post it notes and start recognizing your kids.
Positive recognition - inspires more positive behavior!
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Hi. I like this program. I doubt if anything like this is implemented in my community here...Praise I think is an effective way to make a child feel that they are important and loved by their family. I hope to implement the same project at home. Thanks for this information. :)
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