Checking in with your kids each day is a great way to help them remember their values and to focus on the type of person that they want to be. And a great question to ask each day is –
“What mark did you make today?”
You see, every time we are with someone we leave a “mark” – either a “gold heart” or a “grungy mark” depending on how we treated them.
When I was a young girl, my Dad loved to talk about the Golden Rule – “to treat others as I would want to be treated.”
The Golden Rule was really about treating other people with kindness and respect. When we are respectful (giving gold hearts), it builds rapport, trust, and connection with others. When we are disrespectful (leaving grungy marks), it can cause resentment, anger, distrust, and conflict and can build an emotional wall between us and the other person.
Treating others with kindness and respect is the foundation for happy marriages, meaningful friendships, successful careers, and joyful families.
Teaching children to live by the Golden Rule will help them learn how to create successful relationships in their lives.
I invite you to share this idea of giving “gold hearts” or leaving “grungy marks” with the children in your care. Then each day going forward, ask the children, “What type of mark did you make today?”
Another fun activity is to have children practice giving gold hearts by writing appreciation notes to people in their lives. It’s a lot of fun and helps children remember the importance of giving gold hearts!
For more information about how you can use stories to empower kids visit https://AdventuresinWisdom.com/Boost to check out a free story.
For breakfast, I had two golden pancakes with maple syrup and coffee.
Author: @renayethornborrow