Lesson One: The ABCs of Life : The Skills We All Need but Were Never Taught

Rating:
Summary: Lesson one: The ABC's of Life
Review: This was an excellent book. It offered a lot of practical suggestions for people who live and work with children. It uses acecdotes and stories form the life of the author to put things in context, and then describes a lot of practical ways to teach kids about some of the basics like responsibility, self control, respect for diversity, cooperation, problem solving, ect. A great book for people who work with groups of kids like teachers, and youth leaders, but also useful for parents and other care-givers.

Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading for Parents, Teachers and Coaches!
Review: When my older two children were quite young, I was often at a loss for how to help them learn important new life skills. Then, on a vacation, I had a great good fortune to see my children learning tennis from a marvelous instructor. Since then, I've modeled almost everything I've done with children on the methods of that instructor. That experience was a turning point in my life.

I felt a similar epiphany when I read Lesson One: The ABCs of Life. Mr. Oliver and Mr. Ryan have beautifully captured many of the essential elements that allow a child to grow into an effective, caring adult. The book not only explains the concepts, it reinforces the concepts in a kind of teacher's guide with examples, exercises and materials that anyone can use. I can't miss being a terrific grandfather with this material at my fingertips!

From the book, adults work with children to introduce key concepts, the meaning of the concepts, examples of applying the concepts and skills in employing the concepts as well. The adults learn everything they need to know, from what tone of voice and inflections to use . . . to what stories to tell about their own mistakes. The concepts are ones that anyone will approve of, and the ideas are presented in a loving, nonjudgmental way.

The book begins by explaining how to work with children . . . explaining many of the skills I learned from observing the tennis instructor. The material quickly shifts to the Lesson One Pledge for Success (a pledge that children make to themselves to help themselves be successful):

1. I will listen to what others have to say.

2. I will treat others the way I would like to be treated.

3. I will respect the diversity of all people.

4. I will remember that I have people who care about me in my family, school and community.

5. I will try my best.

Each skill is a building block for the next skill in the pledge. For example, if you cannot listen to others, how can you possibly learn how to treat others like you would like to be treated?

Along the way, the child learns about personal qualities (and ways to develop these qualities): self-control ("self-control time"); self-confidence; personal responsibility ("imagining the consequences"); thinking and problem-solving; and cooperation with others. The concepts and their application reminded me of things I have learned in very helpful seminars I have taken. How wonderful it is if children can learn these lessons before they become adults!

The book will seem somewhat repetitious to some, but that is deliberate. The authors want to be sure the reader understands the material and how to apply it. I was especially impressed that an adult can use this book even if she or he has not had experience in these areas. There are even stories prepared here that you can share with children . . . if you do not have any more relevant stories to share from your own experience.

Rather than just encourage you to buy and read this book, I would like to strongly urge you to apply this book with at least one child. If you do not have children of your own . . . or are not a teacher or coach, I suggest that you take on a volunteer role that would provide the opportunity. The world is too full of children who lack enough loving adults in their lives. In the book, Mr. Oliver tells many wonderful stories about how his surrogate mother, Ms. Effie Boone, raised him while his parents were distracted by their adult lives and responsibilities. Hopefully, we can each play at least part of such a role for a youngster.

As I finished the book, I realized that it would be great if Mr. Oliver were to extend his work to develop two counterparts to this book. The first might be called Lesson Two: The ABCs of Being an Adult. The second might be called Lesson Three: The ABCs of Being a Parent.

May you find great role models to help you be more effective in mentoring and parenting children!

Rating:
Summary: Essential Reading for Parents, Teachers and Coaches!
Review: When my older two children were quite young, I was often at a loss for how to help them learn important new life skills. Then, on a vacation, I had a great good fortune to see my children learning tennis from a marvelous instructor. Since then, I've modeled almost everything I've done with children on the methods of that instructor. That experience was a turning point in my life.

I felt a similar epiphany when I read Lesson One: The ABCs of Life. Mr. Oliver and Mr. Ryan have beautifully captured many of the essential elements that allow a child to grow into an effective, caring adult. The book not only explains the concepts, it reinforces the concepts in a kind of teacher's guide with examples, exercises and materials that anyone can use. I can't miss being a terrific grandfather with this material at my fingertips!

From the book, adults work with children to introduce key concepts, the meaning of the concepts, examples of applying the concepts and skills in employing the concepts as well. The adults learn everything they need to know, from what tone of voice and inflections to use . . . to what stories to tell about their own mistakes. The concepts are ones that anyone will approve of, and the ideas are presented in a loving, nonjudgmental way.

The book begins by explaining how to work with children . . . explaining many of the skills I learned from observing the tennis instructor. The material quickly shifts to the Lesson One Pledge for Success (a pledge that children make to themselves to help themselves be successful):

1. I will listen to what others have to say.

2. I will treat others the way I would like to be treated.

3. I will respect the diversity of all people.

4. I will remember that I have people who care about me in my family, school and community.

5. I will try my best.

Each skill is a building block for the next skill in the pledge. For example, if you cannot listen to others, how can you possibly learn how to treat others like you would like to be treated?

Along the way, the child learns about personal qualities (and ways to develop these qualities): self-control ("self-control time"); self-confidence; personal responsibility ("imagining the consequences"); thinking and problem-solving; and cooperation with others. The concepts and their application reminded me of things I have learned in very helpful seminars I have taken. How wonderful it is if children can learn these lessons before they become adults!

The book will seem somewhat repetitious to some, but that is deliberate. The authors want to be sure the reader understands the material and how to apply it. I was especially impressed that an adult can use this book even if she or he has not had experience in these areas. There are even stories prepared here that you can share with children . . . if you do not have any more relevant stories to share from your own experience.

Rather than just encourage you to buy and read this book, I would like to strongly urge you to apply this book with at least one child. If you do not have children of your own . . . or are not a teacher or coach, I suggest that you take on a volunteer role that would provide the opportunity. The world is too full of children who lack enough loving adults in their lives. In the book, Mr. Oliver tells many wonderful stories about how his surrogate mother, Ms. Effie Boone, raised him while his parents were distracted by their adult lives and responsibilities. Hopefully, we can each play at least part of such a role for a youngster.

As I finished the book, I realized that it would be great if Mr. Oliver were to extend his work to develop two counterparts to this book. The first might be called Lesson Two: The ABCs of Being an Adult. The second might be called Lesson Three: The ABCs of Being a Parent.

May you find great role models to help you be more effective in mentoring and parenting children!