8 suggestions to get your child to WORRY ABOUT THEMSELVES!!!

Is your child always focused on other kids?  Do they focus on how others are playing, who they are friends with, or who is giving out dirty looks?  Some kids (and adults) let other people completely sabotage their mood and their day.  It's hard not to sometimes. 

Here’s some advice that may help.  I’ve been a PE Teacher for over 20 years and I see kids on a daily basis who allow other people to ruin their fun.  They get so wrapped up in how everyone else is playing, that they forget to have fun for themselves.  Here is what happens whey start focusing on other people;

1. They stop having fun.
2. They lose focus on the goals of the game.
3. Sometimes they were so intent on others following the rules, that they stop following the rules themselves.  (As a teacher that drives me crazy!)  

So how do we avoid this;

1. Try to refocus them on what the goal of the game or activity is.
2. When they are consumed by what others are doing, ask them if they’re having fun.  Hopefully they’ll be able to recognize the more time they spend concerned about what others are doing, the less fun they will have!
3. Point out how much fun the person they are worried about is having.
4. Help them to understand that there’s only one person that they can control in this world and that’s themselves.   Even if people are not treating them fairly, they have the power to control their their response, no matter how hard that may be. 
5. Give them a little spin on the old Rolling Stones song; you can't always get what you want, but you can always make the best of what you get.
6. If the person is really going out of their way to bother them, have your child ask them to stop, move away, and ignore them.  If they’ve taken these three steps, have them seek out an adults help.  Have them tell the adult something to the effect of, “I’ve tried these three steps and I was wondering if you have any advice for me.”
7. It's actually possible that your child is the one who owns the issue.  I have seen before where a child's perception of an issue is completely thrown off by hard feelings for others.  
8. Give them three words...WORRY...ABOUT...YOURSELF!

Hope this helps!  Make today GREAT and KEEP MOVING!!