Hey everyone! This post is satisfying 2 of my New Year’s Resolutions!
- One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to conduct and Project GiftED Exclusive Interview every week! My very first one of the year is with Todd Herman, a mental coach to Professional and Olympic Athletes. He also works with youth teams throughout the US and Canada and in this video he talks to us about the 2 Most Important Questions every parent should be asking their child before they fall asleep at night.
- Another Resolution is to learn how to use iMovie :) So, it is far from perfect, but this is my very 1st production that I created from scratch (and it only took me 15 hours!! LOL – not joking!). Let me know what you think of my video and look for another one next week.
Thanks for the interview Melissa…I hope everyone starts to implement the questions. Not only for their kids, but their own life. It’s a powerful way to shape our futures.
Thank you Todd! I have been using these questions with my girls and it is so fun to hear what they have to say – you see patterns start to form and their own unique and personal interests start to show up in their responses… Thank you so much for sharing these 2 important questions with us!
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Great video! I agree with Todd. I’m not a parent, but I feel that these 2 questions can apply to everyone regardless of their age.
Many adults (I admit, including myself) tend to focus on the things that didn’t go well during the day.
This is a great reminder of the good things that we’ve done and cultivate the desire to strive for a future that we’re excited for…when done consistently.
I would also ask these questions to my partner and family members at the end of the day. :)
Very nice and short interview. It is so important to let our children know that it is important to appreciate themselves and their lives in every way.
Thank you,
Biliana
You know, I would have never thought about doing this! These are very positive life shaping questions. I think I’ll start asking myself these questions as well:) My son just turned 16, and I wonder if this technique will work for him. Is to late to start this with him? Are there other methods for teenagers. Thank you so much for putting this interview together. As a single mom I really appreciate all the help I can get. Happy New Year!
Melissa,
Great interview! Valuable and to the point!
I hope every parent takes this on, too! Todd’s “questions” focus on what is important to the child. And I love it that they are not actually questions at all, but requests that guide children toward their greatness and help parents listen at the same time.
One suggestion for those moments when children cannot jump straight to the proudest moment of the day is to try this “question” first, “Tell me the worst thing that happened today.” Letting the child get this out can clear the way for the proud things to show up.
Awesome questions! Thanks Todd & Melissa! This will help guide kids to know what their focus should be on. We are such a negative society! Wow I am going to do this and my kids are 17. 18. and 19. Should be an interesting reply after we get passed the ‘OMG mom this is so random’! LOL
This is wonderful, practical information! Thank you Melissa and Todd. We should, of course, be asking ourselves these questions every night, as well as our children! I must start straight away! Love Carmela
Great post! 2 simple techniques!
Tell me one thing you did today that you are proud of?
Tell me one thing you are excited about for tomorrow?
It just goes to show you don’t have to have a phd to work with kids. Simple effective communication works best! Challenge their minds and they will unlock their own potential!
I’m loving these questions! I don’t have my own kids but I’ll definitely be asking my friends kids when I babysit them!
Also I’ll be starting to ask myself the same questions before I go to sleep too :)
Very nice!
I had a brilliant lady once tell me to ask my kids what they wished for and what they are grateful for. Made them look to the future and be grateful for the past. These two questions let them be proud of themselves and look to the future.
Thank you for this post/video : ) !
An exemplary approach to unlock not only the younger minds but also our own.
Krishna
Master Memory Trainer
Thankyou for these tips.
Great post very simple with such a powerful positive outcome. Thank you these wonderful questions to everyones attention. Much appreciated.
Sandy,
A rather similar thought occurred to me as I listened. But, I couldn’t think of as good a way to put it as you did. I do think though, that on those occasions when something happened that day that was not so pride inspiring, or perhaps was simply something that needs to be processed through, to clear the way for the positive future, it would be appropriate to frame it in a positive way.
Perhaps something like, “What’s something you learned from today, that will help you do better in the future?”
I really like this thought provoking video. I wish I had asked my kids these questions when they were young.
Maybe I will have a chance to introduct this to grandchildren.
I definitely agree. I will do apply the same for my son when he will be a bit older. I do similar thing now even he is 10 month old. At least I do not stop of appreciating every his new knowledge or skills. I hope that he will learn how much I love him and support him. And i think that already now it is visible his improvements.
Thanks Melisa for your interviews and blog. Keep going in this year the same way,Love that here.
Zlata
URL: http://www.mumteaching.com
Thanks for this great advice. Short and sweet, but the message is clear. Amazing that we do not actually think of what our kids did today, or what they look forward to tomorrow, or even what they fear.
Completely profound! I came across this yesterday and listened to it before I went home from the office – so I tried it last night with my 5 year old daughter. I will never forget what she said!
When I asked her what she was proud of today? Her exact words were, "I'm proud that I never came and bugged you when you were on your computer." It killed me – but than she said. "Mommy, are you proud of me?" It was amazing how sincerely she was looking at me looking for my approval.
It's amazing how one simple question has fundamentally altered how I will parent my kids.
Thank Todd for me – he must be an amazing dad!
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Hi Melissa!
Awesome Questions!
I asked till now:
1) What did you like the most today?
(I will change this one…)
2) What did you learn today?
3) What are you happy about, when you think on tomorrow?
Interestingly I am doing this more consistent as a bedtime routine for my kids than for myself, even I am aware of the positive effect… a little bit strange…
Have a nice day :-)
Thanks Paul! I loved this interview and too have started asking my girls these questions with some really positive effects :)
This was a simple and oh-so-obvious idea—once I heard about it! Why didn’t I ever think of that before? <–That's what I kept asking myself. ; )
I would say that although this is wonderful for gifted children, it applies equally well to "regular" kids. Their answers will be just as revealing, and it will set them up well for the next day, just as the author says it will for the gifted.
Thank you for a grand idea, and one I'll pass along to my students' parents every chance I get!
Well, of course, I have to remind my boys as well. Kids can be forgetful. They have to know who mom is – train them, encourage / build good habits. My aunt told me that I needed more patience when dealing with the boys.
Im going to start a diary for her (and me) so she can look back on what she has been proud of and learnt. Also to be optimistic looking forward to tomorrow-goal setting is important because if you dont know where your aiming how can you reach it?
Thank you, Melissa, for the excellent video, even if you did only work on it for 15 hours! :-) It looked great. Keep up the good work. It’ll get quicker.
Great content in the video too. Such simple questions can yield such wonderful insights.
Blessings always,
Charles
Thanks Charles! I am always happy to hear that you liked the video and that there are actually people out there on the other end! :D Take care!