Spring – new flowers, new birth, new warmth and happiness! We have a farming supply store nearby. Every Spring they display their banner – “chick days” – and my kids point excitedly out the car windows as we pass.

Normally we go in and look at the rows and rows of new fuzzy baby chicks and ducklings. I allow the kids to pet them, and hold them. But this year, we decided to adopt some!

I said some. My husband interpreted that as a bunch. So we are now the proud owners of a dozen new chicks and seven ducks!

David, Lizzie and Lucy are showing a very active role in the care of the animals. They can tell what the different chirps mean – whether they are excited or anxious. They learn responsibility as they help us clean out their tubs. They change their water and pour the food.

But one of my favorite things they learn from the baby animals is relational. They realize how strong they are compared to the fragile babies. They learn gentleness and how their actions can calm them or cause them more anxiety.

Like the time 4-year-old David saw a baby chick jump out of the tub. It was separated from it’s friends and started to chirp high, loud, and scared. David was in the living room and heard the sounds, rushed over to the chick. He gently scooped her up and held her in the palm of his hand. “It is ok baby chickie. Here, you go back to your home,” he said and tenderly let it down in the tub.

In this world, our actions affect others. Answering cries for help means the chicks grow big and healthy. I smile, knowing my children are learning how to impact this world positively – that is the true definition of responsibility.

We approach the table. I have organized and displayed all the supplies for our craft and my 5 year old daughter is excited to begin! I show her the finished product so she can get an idea of what it will end up looking like, and try to give her the instructions.

She immediately grabs the scissors and begins cutting. She doesn’t listen, she thinks she already knows what to do!

I calmly ask her to slow down, and follow instructions. She looks up. Her breathing becomes faster. “But mom, no! I know what to do! I want to cut this first, and then put them on the paper.”

I have a choice: demand that she comply – isn’t following instructions something all kids must learn?  - or get inside her head and make this work for both of us.

In fact, with 3 children of various ages, I have noticed quite a few different attitudes and character traits that can either frustrate me as the teacher or help me make learning more effective for them.

Here are just a few traits I’ve seen, and how I turned them around. Please let me know in the comments other traits you work with!

1. Thinking outside of the box – This can also be called “failure to follow directions.”  My daughter will look at a project, and instead of doing it the way the instructions say, she will make it her way. This can be a wonderful attribute to have because she will pave her own way in life – she won’t just go with the flow.

To turn this around, I explain the goal and I allow her to explain how her way will reach the goal. There is a huge difference between defiance and creativity.

2. Stubbornness – This kind of follows the first trait, and usually shows up if I fail to communicate with her. Craft time and learning time can sometimes get rushed and chaotic. When Lizzie feels like she isn’t being understood, she sets her heels in the ground and won’t move.

To turn this around, I stop the activity and communicate with her. Stubbornness is another trait I want her to keep. That means she is tenacious and won’t give up when times get hard! That is why communication is so important. So I teach her how to express her feelings and find a mutually beneficial solution.

3. Not sitting still – My preschool son would much rather run, jump, and play with his toys than sit down and do work. What I see as hyperactivity can actually be a tactile learner.  I just need to let him act out activities, teach him songs with actions, and let him try (and fail, and try again) different projects.

4. Bossiness – I notice this with my oldest when she is doing projects with her younger siblings. “No, you have to use the glue stick!” Constant instructions, and frustration when they don’t do it her way. 

I see a leader in the making. She cares about her vision and desires to see it come to fruition. Molding and encouraging positive leadership traits are so important for natural leaders. I remind her to be empathetic – how would she feel if they did this to her? And also teach her that a good leader cares about how those around her feel, so kindness and gentleness are extremely important.

With young children, you have to teach them best so they will learn. Be creative with your lesson plans and discover success where you once found frustration!