What attitude begins your day?  How does it affect your parenting, your job, or your students?

Attitude affects everything we do. People understand feelings such as hunger or hurt but don’t have an awareness of the attitude they carry. Attitude affects our perception of the world around us.  This is the same when we are parenting, teaching, or on the job.  It determines success – how successful you are in teaching, learning, parenting, and in forming relationships.

The way we interact with children and students can establish a classroom or home environment that nurtures investigation, experimentation, hard work, and the ability to learn. It determines outcome.  A person’s attitude is a habit. You think, talk, and act your attitude whether it is positive or negative. Everyday there is a choice regarding the attitude that is embraced for that day.  No matter what happens, your response reflects your attitude.

Attitude Is Everything

A positive attitude means a positive mindset:

•  Do not to let insults, sarcasm, rudeness, bother you.

•  Be appreciative of others and give compliments when you can.

•  Remember the old saying ‘Garbage in, Garbage out.

•  Stop negative thoughts before they develop.

•  Be grateful.

•  Take responsibility and don’t be a victim or feel entitled.

•  Be proactive rather than reactive.

• Use ‘I’ messages rather than ‘You’ messages when explaining.  Using ‘you’ points the finger at someone.  Using ‘I’ points the finger at yourself.

•  Seek others that have a positive attitude.

Positive thinking affects areas of your health and well-being. It enables people to cope with stressful situations.

Making children’s activities, when at home or at school, meaningful and relevant will build a positive attitude in students and children.  Understand their talents, learning styles, and interests and use that as a basis for instruction and for creating activities. All people like to feel emotionally good, and positive feedback will instill intrinsic motivation.  As a parent or an educator, be a role model for positive behavior, positive thinking, and keep a positive attitude.