Four Steps to Raising Sturdy Children

1. Create a family culture (what do we say “yes” to, what do we say “no” to?).
2. Do less, and require more of the children.
3. Connect cause and effect (McCready’s “when/then”).
4. Limit technology.

I just listened to an interesting episode of The Commons, a CiRCE Institute podcast.  In it, Brian Phillips chatted with Dr. Keith McCurdy (M.A., Ed.S.) of Total Life Counseling in Roanoke, VA about raising sturdy kids.

Now Waterbears are hardy by temperament, but a little extra perpective on sturdiness is always welcome in my home.  I thought his four steps to raising hardy kids were interesting, and not necessarily intuitive.  What I mean is, common sense told me these were good things to do in the home, but I didn't intuitively connect the above to "sturdiness."

The first three steps are what I call "fuzzy" steps, because (for example) there is no clear direction on how to create a family culture (if you don't know how to do it already, which many families don't).  I am one of those people who want to create a family culture, and would love to see a month by month plan on how to do it.  I just like to see a project broken down into its smallest steps, Dave Ramsey-style.

Step #4 is more my speed.  Of the four it's the most concrete.  I trust that I know how to limit technology.  That why, even though it's the last step, it's the one on which I decided to take action.

If your interested in listening to the podcast yourself, I've included the link below:

The Commons #12: On Building Sturdy Children