Attitude Makeover: Greedy

The New Attitude Review
All attitude makeovers take hard work, constant practice, and parental reinforcement. Each step your child takes toward change may be a small one, so be sure to acknowledge and congratulate every one of them along the way. It takes a minimum of twenty-one days to see real results, so don't give up! And if one strategy doesn't work, try another. Write your child's weekly progress on the lines below. Keep track of daily progress in your Attitude Makeover Journal.

Week 1

Ongoing Attitude Tune-Up
Where does your child's attitude still need improvement? What work still needs to be done?

Attitude Makeover Resources
For Parents
Money Doesn't Grow on Trees, by Neale Godfrey and Carolina Edwards (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994). A parenting resource to help kids learn financial planning and bust their spendthrift urges.

The Brighter Side of Human Nature, by Alfie Kohn (New York: Basic Books, 1990). Drawing from hundreds of studies, Kohn makes a powerful case that generosity is just as natural as selfishness.

For Kids
Fly Away Home, by Eve Bunting (New York: Clarion Books, 1991). The plight of a homeless boy and his father is told in this poignant tale. The only home that Andrew and his dad have is an airport, and as Andrew's dad says, "It's warm. It's safe. And the price is right." Ages 4 to 8.

Tight Times, by Barbara Shook Hazen (New York: Puffin, 1983). A poignant tale about a boy who more than anything else wants a dog but is not allowed to get one because of "tight times." The book portrays the deep love the family feels for one another even though times are tough and Dad loses his job. Ages 4 to 9.

The Giver, by Lois Lowry (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1994). In a world without poverty or inequity, Jonas has an experience that questions every value we take for granted. This is wonderful! Ages 9 to 15.

The Marzipan Pig (Family Home Video, 1991). Adapted from the wonderful book by Russell Hoban, here are thirty moving minutes that sensitize kids to feelings (especially loneliness and kindness). A wonderful video for the family to savor.

Places in the Heart (CBS/Fox Video, 1984). This film features Sally Field in an Oscar-winning role as a young widow determined to survive as a cotton farmer during the Depression. Virtues include compassion, self-reliance, perseverance, and self-control.

From Don't Give Me That Attitude by Michele Borba, Ed.D. Copyright © 2004 by Michele Borba. All rights reserved. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Buy the book at www.amazon.com.