Читать книгу Raising Cooperative Kids - Marion S. Forgatch - Страница 33

Making goal statements a habit will help you create the kind of environment you want for your family. At the most basic level, we want our kids to be happy and to feel secure. Goals help us define the behaviors we want to nurture in our children and ourselves. They give us outcomes toward which we can work. Clear directions let your children know what you want them to do, removing the ambiguity and guesswork of your communications. Now you can start working on teaching your children new behaviors and establishing routines that give your family life structure and predictability—conditions that allow your children to feel secure and thrive.

Parents who prompt compliance with clear directions can avoid coercive interactions and promote a cooperative spirit. They seldom have to resort to commands. Giving clear directions is not a final solution, but it sets you and your family on a good path. This is an important first step in a long chain of change. In the next chapter, you'll see how goal statements and clear directions can help you teach children new skills and habits through encouragement.