TEACHING COURAGE
Tips for Parents
by Vicki Nickols
March 07, 2010
> What Children Need to Know About Courage:
Courage=being brave in difficult times; meeting danger without fear; daring. Everyone has disappointments and obstacles they have to face. We all need courage to conquer our fears and to try new and different things.
> To Help Children Develop Courage:
1. Encourage children to try new things.
2. Teach them that mistakes are okay and can be learning opportunities.
3. Help your children face their fears by practicing what is difficult for them (i.e., meeting a new friend for the first time, giving a presentation in front of the class).
> The Career Connection:
Some of the most successful people have been those who faced adversity: Abraham Lincoln was raised in poverty, Beethoven was born deaf, Einstein was considered retarded, and Martin Luther King faced racial discrimination. All of these people gained success despite the obstacles they faced. Courage will allow children to accept and face their difficulties so they can reach the career they desire.
(From The Character and Career Connection, National Center for Youth Issues)
