Last week in classroom guidance 8th grade students were discussing the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Education.com
provides the following review and synopsis.
Being a teenager is both wonderful and challenging. In The 7
Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey applies the timeless
principles of the 7 Habits to teens and the tough issues and life-changing
decisions they face. In an entertaining style, Covey provides a step-by-step
guide to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer
pressure, achieve their goals, get along with their parents, and much more. In
addition, this book is stuffed with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and
incredible stories about real teens from all over the world. The 7 Habits of
Highly Effective Teens will engage teenagers unlike any other book.
An indispensable book for teens, as well as parents,
grandparents, and any adult who influences young people, The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective Teens is destined to become the last word on surviving and thriving
as a teen and beyond.
--
by Education.com
For teens, life is not a playground,
it's a jungle. And, being the parent of a teenager isn't any walk in the park,
either. In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean
Covey attempts to provide "a compass to help teens and their parents
navigate the problems they encounter daily."
How will they deal with peer
pressure? Motivation? Success or lack thereof? The life of a teenager is full
of tough issues and life-changing decisions. As a parent, you are responsible
to help them learn the principles and ethics that will help them to reach their
goals and live a successful life.
While it's all well and good to tell
kids how to live their lives, "teens watch what you do more than they
listen to what you say," Covey says. So practice what you preach. Your
example can be very influential.
Covey himself has done well by
following a parent's example. His dad, Stephen Covey, wrote the book The 7
Habits of Highly Successful People, which sold over 15 million copies.
Sean's a chip off the old block, and no slacker. His own book has rung in a
more than respectable 2 million copies sold. Here are his seven habits,
and some ideas for helping your teen understand and apply them:
Be Proactive
Being proactive is the key to
unlocking the other habits. Help your teen take control and responsibility for
her life. Proactive people understand that they are responsible for their own
happiness or unhappiness. They don't blame others for their own actions or
feelings.
Begin With the End in Mind
If teens aren't clear about where
they want to end up in life, about their values, goals, and what they stand
for, they will wander, waste time, and be tossed to and fro by the opinions of
others. Help your teen create a personal mission statement which will act as a
road map and direct and guide his decision-making process.
Put First Things First
This habit helps teens prioritize
and manage their time so that they focus on and complete the most important
things in their lives. Putting first things first also means learning to
overcome fears and being strong during difficult times. It's living life
according to what matters most.
Think Win-Win
Teens can learn to foster the belief
that it is possible to create an atmosphere of win-win in every relationship.
This habit encourages the idea that in any given discussion or situation both
parties can arrive at a mutually beneficial solution. Your teen will learn to
celebrate the accomplishments of others instead of being threatened by them.
Seek First to Understand, Then to be
Understood
Because most people don't listen
very well, one of the great frustrations in life is that many don't feel understood.
This habit will ensure your teen learns the most important communication skill
there is: active listening.
Synergize
Synergy is achieved when two or more
people work together to create something better than either could alone.
Through this habit, teens learn it doesn't have to be "your way" or
"my way" but rather a better way, a higher way. Synergy allows teens
to value differences and better appreciate others.
Sharpen the Saw
Teens should never get too busy
living to take time to renew themselves. When a teen "sharpens the
saw" she is keeping her personal self sharp so that she can better deal
with life. It means regularly renewing and strengthening the four key
dimensions of life – body, brain, heart, and soul.
