Insisting on Follow-Throughby Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger 10 Jul 2007 06:27 PM I just want to introduce this blog by saying that I am NOT one of those parents who insists that my kids NEVER EVER quit anything-but, on the whole, I have encouraged them to stick with projects and see them through to completion. This means that if they start a sport season, or join the yearbook staff, or agree to do some volunteer work, I do insist that they follow those things through to the end of the season, project or school year. While I think there is something to be learned in how to quit or walk away from a project or commitment with some grace (that is another blog, though!), I think learning how to follow commitments through to completion is a very important lesson for kids to learn! Having date parameters around commitments can help to create a focus on commitment and follow-through without a child feeling trapped. For example, just because a child starts taking piano lessons or a dance class-shouldn't mean that he or she has signed a life-long contract. BUT, taking lessons or classes by the term, year, or season is one way to stress follow-through while providing some flexibility. I even insist that when my children accept an invitation to a party or retreat or other event that they are not allowed to cancel when they get a better offer. I think it is an important character lesson to learn that we don't cancel our commitments because we've been asked to do something more fun or interesting, or cancelling on "dates" because someone more desirable has come along. Starting from the time they were very young, I've been working on the whole "follow through" character lesson and while there are ways to get out of projects, teams and commitments, I do insist on follow-through and seeing things through to an adequate completion. The secondary lesson in insisting on follow-through is that kids learn how to carefully consider things before they jump into new projects and activities-since they learn they cannot get out of things very easily or on a whim! See Also: If We Want Our Children to Have Character Traits--We Have to Have Them First Are Parent's Important Life Lessons Sinking In? Learn more about Kori Rodley Irons  Bio has been removed by administrator Relevantparenting tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags behavior, Character, follow-through Discuss this article
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