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Show Kids Are Frightened About Everyday Life by Dr. Daryl McCarty Thoreau wrote that all men live their lives in quiet desperation. The same can be said for kids. Johnny didn't understand under-stand a concept taught in his math class today, and he's frightened that he'll get hopelessly behind in the class. Sue has two warts on her index finger, and she's' worried that her boyfriend will see them when they go to the school dance. Whether it's acne, the mean kid down the block, getting cut from the football team, history tests, hitting a clinker during a glee club singfest, or trying out for the school play, kids often find themselves them-selves frightened. Fright can lead to desperation and desperation can lead to failure. There's something else that can help a young person to flop. It's relentless criticism and statements that show parents don't have much faith in their children. How many times do parents inform their children that they're "knotheads, clumsy, stupid, chubby, or dumb?" Statements! such as those add fuel ', to the fires of failure. 'The first problem, ' dealing with fears, is a ', difficulty that is largely up to the young I person to conquer, ! Robbie must deal with the mean kid down the 1 block. Jane must try-hard try-hard for that part in the school play. I But that other problem, the stream of statements that tell a i kid people don't think he or she amounts to much, is something j parents and others can correct quickly. When a young boy ; trying to make a bir- dhouse fouls up a piece of expensive wood, ; Dad doesn't need to call him a "knothead." The kid knows he's goofed. The father Who j smiles and remembers 1 the time he did . i something similar can make one little boya lot ! less desperate. , The mother who j watches with dismay ) at her daughters , weight increasing doesn't have to call her "chubby ". Challenging , daughter to a dieting j competition might do a lot more to solve things. j Kids have a better j chance at success when they aren't desperate. ? |