MindSwitch Mondays Issue #13: On Kids Learning to Give *specific* instructions.
Obedience turns into collaboration.
Hi Friends.
Today I say Hola! to you from Madrid. In the next couple of weeks, I will be traveling around Spain visiting family and friends.
Today’s newsletter is short and sweet. Enjoy!
Traveling after COVID requires many instructions to help us stay safe. Wearing masks, using hand sanitizer often, getting off the plane when your row is called, keeping 2 meters distance between others in line, etc.
We are dealing with a pandemic and to stay safe it's very important to follow instructions.
There are two parts that bring value to kids in following instructions:
1. Learning why and how to follow instructions
Kids need to learn the skill of following instructions for many reasons other than safety.
For example, they will need instructions when building a lego spacecraft, or for playing games, or to help out in the house.
But learning to follow instructions is just as important as understanding why to follow instructions.
WHY?
When kids understand why they need to follow instructions, they go all in. Obedience turns into collaboration. The real world is about collaborating and not about obeying.
2. How to receive and give clear instructions.
A few days ago, I asked my daughter to put some shoes on so we could go for a walk. She went to her closet and came back with flip-flops. I asked her to put shoes she could run in. Before she went back, she asked me “Any pair of shoes mom?” I said “Yes”
Guess what she was wearing when she came back?
Slippers! Yes, Slippers! And she mischievously told me “You told me ANY pair of shoes mom!”
If we want kids to follow instructions successfully, we need to give clear instructions to them. Clear instructions require us to communicate clearly. When we learn to give clear instructions we see the results of the effectiveness of our communication.
But when do our future instruction givers practice this skill?
Giving kids opportunities to learn to communicate effectively is a way they can build on this skill for when they become the instruction givers.
Check out Josh Darnit’s “Exact Instruction Challenge PB&J” to help his kids learn how to give clear instructions. SUPER FUNNY short video! Awesome Idea!
_____
Thanks for reading!
I feel so excited our community is growing! I want to welcome everyone who recently joined us!
Hit the reply button to share your thoughts on this!
Stay safe. Stay healthy!
Alexandra