Four Ways to Help Your Child Try New Things -- Springfield Dad, Steve Moser

“What’s that?!” 

“It’s good.  You’ll like it.”

“Yuck. No I won’t.” 

“How do you know you won’t like it if you haven’t tried it?” 

“It looks gross.” 

“Well, it’s not, and your mother worked really hard at making a nice dinner for us, so eat it!” 

“I can’t.  I’ll throw up!”

“No you won’t – and you’re not getting up from this table until you’ve eaten it, young lady, so you’d better get started now!”

And so the lines are drawn, and the battle begins . . .

Sound familiar?  I don’t know any father who hasn’t played out the above scenario in some form or another with his kids, and it can be a very frustrating experience on both sides.

Granted, if our children’s biggest struggle is with trying new food at dinner, they’re probably not going to be emotionally crippled for life.  On the other hand, if they are paralyzed with fear about trying anything new, they could miss out on a great deal of the joy and adventure of living.

So what can we do as fathers to help our children overcome their fears and welcome new experiences in life?  We can proactively address four underlying beliefs that hold our kids back, and we can build a set of beliefs into the foundation of their character that will help them embrace the new rather than fear it.

Four Beliefs That Hold Kids Back

 

Belief #1: Inability (“I can’t do it”)

Kids sometimes think that because they haven’t done something before, that means they can’t do it.  As fathers, we can help foster a sense of independence in our children by giving them small things to do from a very young age.   We can encourage their natural inclination to want to “do it myself”, then congratulate them on their successes, and not criticize when the finished product is less than perfect.

My 8-year-old daughter Charissa and I were building Lego houses together a few months ago.   After a while, I saw how I could “improve” part of her design.  I started rebuilding a stairway so it would be more sturdy and, in my opinion, more aesthetically pleasing.  My daughter saw what I was doing and said seven words that had me scrambling to put things back the way I found them.  She looked at me with her big eyes and just said, “I worked really hard on that, Daddy.”  I’m grateful she spoke up and helped me realize that despite my good intentions, I was sending her a message that she wasn’t good enough.  I pray I never make that mistake again.

 

Belief #2: Incompetence(“I won’t be good at it”)

Even when a child realizes they have the ability to do something new, they may not have the assurance they can do it well.  For some kids, that’s a show-stopper.  As fathers, we can help foster a sense of confidence in our children by giving sincere praise for their accomplishments.  By celebrating their achievements with them, our children grow more self-assured and more eager to try something new.

Charissa is learning how to play basketball, and before her first game, she was terrified she would make a mistake and be embarrassed in front of everyone.  Fortunately, she has a great coach.  He made a concerted effort to give positive feedback for every good move on the court, and by the time the game was over, Charissa’s main comment was, “That was fun!”  I want to be an encouraging coach for her as well, so every new experience she has will end with the same feeling.

 

Belief #3: Insecurity (“I’m not safe”)

 If children don’t feel safe, they have a difficult time taking risks with new situations.  Kids need to know they are loved and protected unconditionally.  As fathers, we can help foster a sense of security in our children by showing them how important they are to us and by providing them with a stable environment.  We do this by spending time with them, enjoying them, and listening carefully to how they feel.

When Charissa was six years old, I took her to the Daddy-Daughter Dance sponsored by the Lutheran Student Center at MSU.  I left the house early and purchased a white rose, then drove back home and rang the front doorbell.  When my wife opened the door, I saw Charissa all dressed up with her face just beaming at me, and it brought tears to my eyes.  I knew I’d done something right.  I’d added to Charissa’s foundational beliefs about her value, her security and her confidence.  I’d let her know she was loved.

Belief #4: Inadequacy (“If I fail, I’m a failure”)

 If children get their sense of worth out of succeeding in what they do, then when they don’t succeed, their sense of worth plummets.  Rather than take that risk, some kids just avoid trying anything new.  As fathers, we can help foster a sense of strength in our children that helps them cope with the inevitable mistakes and missteps of life.  We do this verbally by letting them know it’s ok to make mistakes, and by not criticizing, teasing, or disapproving when they mess up.  We also strengthen our kids by modeling the process for them.  We can do new things together with them, and when it doesn’t go as planned, let them know it’s ok, help them think through a solution, and show them we’re still having fun.

 

I decided that for my daughter’s birthday this year, I was going to build a cake for her in the shape of a castle.  I’d never done anything like this before, but how hard could it be?  At one point in the process, Charissa saw the cake, and although she was polite, I could tell she had some doubts about how it was going to turn out.  So did I.  When her mother called to reassure Charissa that it couldn’t be that bad, her response was, “Oh but Mom, you can’t see it.”  Well, I modeled some perseverance and determination that day.  After adding about 30 reinforcing skewers, a Rice Krispy retaining wall around the whole cake, and even a few nails pounded into the foundation, it turned out all right.  Charissa loved it, and I think she learned a valuable lesson about how to accept mistakes and push on through.

 

Every child is different, and some will be more intimidated by new things than others, and that’s ok.  But all will benefit from having a solid foundation based on these four core beliefs:

·                     Independence (“I can do it!”)

·                     Confidence (“I’m good at it!”)

·                     Security (“No matter what, I am safe!”)

·                     Strength (“Mistakes are ok.”)

As dads, our influence over our children in these four areas is greater than that of anyone else.  As we teach, encourage, support, and model these foundational beliefs for our kids, we will reap the reward of watching them grow and enjoy all the new experiences life has to offer.

Steve Moser is the father of four and the husband of Mindy. He lives with his wife and his youngest child, Charissa, in Springfield, MO where he serves as the Parish Life Director at Redeemer Lutheran Church. He can be reached for question or comment at smoser@rlcmail.org.

Helping Your Children with "Firsts"

At the first of the year, my mind is often brought back to the many “firsts” I have been blessed to witness my children experience. There are those “firsts” with which most dads are familiar – the first steps, first words, first days of school, first bike ride without training wheels, first driving lesson, and first date. Most of the aforementioned are joyous firsts, but of course we experience some hard firsts with our kids as well. First illness, first bumped head, first scraped knee, first fender bender, and first heartbreak. Other “firsts,” such as the first fall the eldest child is off at college, are a little bit of both – bittersweet in many ways. And as much as I like to think “firsts” are just for kids, I know they indeed are not. Life is full of what we adults call “changes,” but in truth, they are simply an endless stream of “firsts.”

Because of the nature of my job, a very real “first” my wife and I had to help our sons navigate came by way of moving. We had to work at giving our boys the opportunity to both experience all of the wonderful benefits of living in various cities, small towns, and even one other country, while maintaining a consistent sense of “home.” Many adults struggle with the change that moving brings, but to a child, it can be downright scary. While the majority of you reading this may not see yourself ever having to move your family from where you currently reside, some of the principles applied to making a move to a new place as smooth as possible can apply to so many other “firsts.” Especially “firsts” such as going from middle school to high school, leaving for college, or first days on a job. So, with that in mind, here are a few things I’ve learned along the “firsts” trail of life…

·        

     Remind yourself and your children – often – that getting used to something new takes time.

Before any move, we would tell our kids, “A year from now, you are going to love this place! You’ll see!” Okay, I know a year sounds like forever to our kids, but too many parents say unrealistic things such as, “You are going to have great friends on the very first day!” Um, more than likely, you won’t. But, when a kid is thinking 12 months, and 12 days later they make one, really good friend? Golden. Again, this also can apply to something such as a student simply moving from one grade level to the next.  If we focus on this reality, we can find joy in the journey – guaranteed!

·      Build knowledge and excitement for the adventure ahead!

Study, explore and discuss various aspects of the upcoming “first.” Nervous about the first day of school? Call the school and see if you can take your child on a private tour of the building to get acclimated without feeling overwhelmed. Rent a fun James Patterson movie based on one of his middle school novels. Share your own experiences – both good and embarrassing, as your child will love hearing them. If you’re moving, get online, search the local parks, history, festivals, and events. If you’re moving before the school year begins, see if there are some summer programs you can get your kids in that will help them get to know other kids so that “first day” later on is easier to look forward to than dread.

·      

        Stay Gold . . . and Silver

My wife drove us nuts singing it, but there’s some solid truth to the old Girl Scout song, “Make new friends, but keep the old . . . one is silver and the other’s gold.” She was forever telling our boys that with each new experience was the opportunity to gather more friends. At the same time, we worked hard to make it as easy as possible for the boys to maintain the cherished friendships they already had . . . and don’t underestimate the Gold and Silver of your own family.  With each new adventure, we were poised with the opportunity draw closer to each other like never before.  As a dad, that’s what I treasured most!

Whatever “firsts” you are facing as a family, more than any other tried and true advice I can offer is simply the reminder that when facing the “firsts” together, remember that they can be the firsts of many great things to come.

Kevin Weaver, CEO of Network211 and father of three sons, lives with his wife KyAnne in Springfield, MO. He enjoys spending time with family, hunting and watching University of Kansas basketball with his boys! He can be reached at kweaver@network211.com

A Dad's New Year Resolution

A man goes through quite a few stages as a father. Each stage has unique challenges that require any you can be an even better dad by just giving a little thought to your child’s needs and your responsibilities.

The beginning of a new year is often accompanied by resolutions, by many, to make needed changes. The change necessary could relate to eating habits, exercise, or to being a kinder, gentler person. A resolution I think could be the greatest asset to your family would be to be the best father you can be!

Below are some thoughts on minimal steps to be a ‘good dad’, if not a great dad! These thoughts are from my experience as a father, grandfather, and author, and my wife's experience as a ‘Parent Educator’. I don’t recommend depending on this advice alone! There are many awesome parenting books out there (including mine) and I recommend that you read them! But for you dads that don’t or won’t read parenting books, here is a shortcut. Of course, it’s not as simple as reading a checklist. A lot of work and interpretation is involved! It is also very important to communicate clearly with your child’s mother regarding all aspects of parenting.

Before Kids
 1. Find a wonderful mate
 2. Fall in love (not infatuation.)
 3. Marry this loved one (highly preferred.)
 4. Really WANT to have a child!
 5. Have intimate relations with your mate (you are on your own here.)
 6. Be mentally ready (If you are fortunate, you will have a healthy child which will change your life)

Baby Baby
 7. Keep them safe! (This includes a proper car seat.)
 8. Hold the baby, feed the baby, and talk to the baby!
 9. Change the baby’s diapers! (If you don’t, you’re a wimp!)
10. Read to the baby! (The baby will associate snuggling, comfort, and love with books)
11. Continue to help the mother in all aspects of parenting!

Toddler Time
​12. Watch closely as your toddler will be adventurous! (Stairs, small objects, sharp objects are all dangerous)
13. Read to your toddler! (Always very important!)
14. Love and comfort your toddler (but don’t pick them up at every whimper)
15. Assist them in standing and walking (make them work at it a bit)​
16. As they get a little older, talk to them about potty training (maybe show-time for boys will help)
17. Don’t push them too hard in getting out of diapers (but don’t be lazy about it)

Pre-school to Tween
18. Some things get easier and other things get tougher as a parent (e.g. no diapers, but more attitude)
19. Buckle their seat belt
20. When you get home, ask them how they’re doing (and listen!)
21. Check school work (help them learn but don’t solve problems for them)
22. Take them with you on errands (it may take twice as long but it will make memories and connections)
23. Experience stuff together (fishing, ballgames, camping, swimming, whatever creates memories together)
24. Praise their efforts, especially their persistence
25. Challenge them with tasks just beyond their perceived capability (give them enough help that they don’t give up)

Teen Time
26. Buckle your seat belt! (You know what I mean.)
27. Be a good example (you can no longer fool them.)
28. Continue to do stuff together as much as possible! (It may be tough but not so much if you have developed traditions.)
29. Give them some space and show them trust (but verify, verify, verify)
30. At some reasonable point in time, talk about bird and bees and real life. (You might learn something!)
31. Be willing to be “hated” for doing the right thing for your teens.
32. Be conscious of likely peer pressure. (As a teen, impressing their friends will likely take precedence over being straight with you.)
33. Help them when it makes them stronger. Don’t help them if it makes them weaker.
34. Expect solid contributions from them to maintain the household.
35. Teach goals, integrity, and education

Adulthood
Your child will have become the person they will most likely be the rest of their life. Not everything they do right is to your credit, nor is everything they do wrong your fault. Some life experiences will change them, but your influence on their childhood will be a significant influence on who they are. Remain involved and give advice when asked.

Summary
Becoming a father is a blessing for a man. Being a Dad is a blessing for his child. Be involved, be knowledgeable, be loving, be consistent, be fun, and have principles!  But most importantly, ‘be there’ for your children when they need your reassurance, help, love, and understanding. Read about parenting. There is always something to learn. You will always be very influential in your children’s lives but you won’t always know when it has or will happen. Be sure your influence is something of which you can be very proud! Never be satisfied, always challenge you children and yourself!

Michael Smith, the author of The Power of Dadhood: How to Become the Father Your Child Need, is the father of three adult children and grandfather of four. He is a retired US Air Force officer and resides with his wife in St. Louis, MO. Michael can be reached for question or comment at mike@michaelbyronsmith.com. 

Teaching "New" -- by Jeffrey Sippy, a Dad-in-Training

The New Year is a time “New.”  But New is not always so nice.  New means change and change means challenge.  New might not be fun for you.

New represents the unknown—from a child’s first day of school to a Dad bringing home his baby for the first time.  The unknown stirs questions of who we are and how we feel: Will I be liked?  Will I know what I am doing?  Will I be any good?  

These questions are just a few when it comes to the New.  There are girls who do not want to go bowling on a date because they don’t want to be laughed at.  There are boys who do not want to go skiing for fear of falling down.  The New does not always seem so good for you.     

There is a temptation to fight the fear of the New with a Herculean bravado.  There is a saying that   “When the going gets tough the tough get going.”  This is not always true.  Throwing children off the high dive is not the best way to overcome a fear of heights. 

New can be good for you.  But new isn’t easy—not for me, not for you, and not for our children.  So here are some encouragements for Good Dads helping their children find the good in the New: 

• Set aside some time to talk about the New.  The answer may be the same in the end, but don’t be too quick to get there.  Go out for lunch.  Snuggle up on the bed.
• Listen.  Really listen.  Don’t say, “You don’t need to be afraid.”  Acknowledge feelings.  “Wow.  I can see this is bothering you.  This would be hard for me, too.” 
• Empathize.  Remember a time you were afraid of the New, too.  You might ask for permission, “May I share a story with you?”  But do not presume the feelings or the outcome is the same.  Your only goal is to say, “I have been afraid, too.”
• Choose your battles.  Your child does have to go to school.  But your child does not have to play soccer, stay in the band, go out for cheerleading, or go on a date.  Good Dads are gracious Dads, patient Dads, and accepting Dads.
• Be proud.  When your child does something New tell him, “I am really proud of you for trying something New.  Tell me, now do you feel?”    

The New is not always easy—not for me or for you.  I don’t always feel I am a Good Dad or good at other things.  It doesn’t help me when people say, “You shouldn’t feel that way.”  It does help when people say, “What can I do to help?” and “I am proud of you.” 

You are a Good Dad and what you do isn’t easy. Every day is new for you.  I am proud of you.  

 Jeff Sippy, a Dad-In-Training, is the father of three young men and the husband of Cindy. He enjoys sailing every chance that he gets. He is the senior pastor at Redeemer Lutheran in Springfield, MO and can be reached for question or comment at jsippy@rlcmail.org