My Upper Room

Why my child?

There is a saying in business: "Hire for character; train for competence," which means you can train people to do a job a whole lot easier than you can give them character.

Survey after survey has shown that integrity and social competence matter in the 'real world'. People with weak social skills face many difficulties in life. As parents, we can't leave it to chance. By letting us introduce your child to basic foundation in a fun and exciting way, without a stigma attached to it, or pre-conceived bias, you are enabling your child to forge their way ahead on their own terms.

The question should actually be "Why not every child?" Children are not only the products of their homes, but of their whole environment.  If a child has not been taught to play fair, share and to get along with others, he, or she, may suffer from lack of friends, ridicule, insecurity and other negatives. These are easier to eradicate while somebody is young. As adults we know all too well the daunting task of changing characteristics once we are older (and more stubborn).

Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court Justice, once said, "Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot"

Quiz

Here's a few questions you can ask your kids (and maybe yourself!):

• When is it acceptable to put your elbows on the table? Between courses, while you are eating, or never?
• During the meal you really need to use the restroom. What do you do? Shout out that "you need to go", politely excuse yourself or just get up and leave the table?
• When you aren't eating, where do you keep your hands? On your lap and the table, in your pockets or perhaps drumming a little tune on the tabletop?
• Is it good manners to read the newspaper at the table? Perhaps only if you are willing to share the sports section, or if it is neatly folded, or maybe...never?
• When sitting down to dinner when should you start eating? Straight away, when everyone has got their food, or when the host, or parent starts eating?
• Your Grandmother just gave you a sweater that she knitted for your birthday. It's two sizes too small and is bright orange, what do you do? Give it back, call her and say "thanks" or write her a thank-you note and give her a hug when you see her next?
• Your friends' Dad just bought a new sports car. Do you: Ask him loudly how much he paid for it, compare it to the new car your own father just bought or congratulate him politely and comment on how good it looks.
• The most unpopular guy in your class is being bullied every day. Do you: keep quiet because hey, they're not bullying you, try and join in the fun, or do you stand up for what is right and report it to the correct person?