Children tend to think of themselves as the center of the universe. Here's a game that can get them to focus on the contributions other people make to their lives.
Each evening at dinner, play the compliment game. One by one, family members either offer a compliment to someone else or thank someone else.
"I'd like to thank Mom. This dinner is my very favorite." Or, "I'd like to compliment Ryan. I couldn't find my gym shoes this morning. He helped me look for them until I found them."
If you do this each day, your children will begin to pay attention. They'll notice the nice things others do for them. They will thank other family members for helping them.
Your compliments will have an effect on your children. You will also see them repeat the behavior so you can compliment them again!
Reprinted with permission from the February 2011 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2011 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Rafe Esquith, Lighting their Fires: Raising Extraordinary Children in a Mixed-up, Muddled-up, Shook-up World, ISBN: 9780-6700-2108-6, Viking.