- Goals
Overcoming fear and accepting responsibility are two of life's constant struggles. Every step of development requires us to cope with new challenges and uncertainties. Elders are in a unique position to nurture a perseverance and strength of will that will enable children to face many of life's difficulties.
- Prepare your Special Letter:
Discuss courage and the times when you acted courageously, especially when you were younger. These acts of bravery need not be dramatic. Sometimes the most difficult acts are quiet and unrecognized, like refusing to ridicule someone when everyone else does so. Discuss responsibility and courage in professions such as policemen, firemen, doctors and nurses. Talk about responsibility and chores. (Things like washing the dishes, taking out the trash or babysitting.) Emphasize that you have done these things because they are responsibilities and these tasks are necessary even though they may not be very enjoyable. Anything you think is important!
- For your grandchild's scrapbook:
On a sheet of paper, complete a sentence like, It takes a lot of courage to.... or Responsibilities are important because.... Illustrate your statement with drawings or pictures from magazines. Or write a poem or short story about courage.
- In your journal (After completing letter 4)
Describe some courageous moments you had as you were growing up. Be as specific as possible. Describe some of the responsibilities you faced as you became older. (After receiving your grandchild's special letter): Do you believe courage and responsibility are important? If so, why? How did your grandchild respond to the issue?
- Optional Activities (Choose as many as you want to do):
- Treasure Box. Decorate a small box as a container for a special treasure. Leave the decision of what to put inside the box up to your grandchild. Enclose a note with a brief explanation of the box and its purpose.
- Future Fantasy. Draw a picture or write a story about something you would like to do in the future or when you finally "grow-up." Write a brief explanation of how courage or responsibility may play an important part in this dream.
- Mail what you have created directly to your grandchild. Ask your grandchild to respond with letter 4 on his or her instruction sheet.
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http://www.ksu.edu/wwparent/courses/gl/gp-4.htm-- Revised: December 26, 1999