Definition: To feel thankful and grateful. To focus on the good in your life. Mindfulness. Activities: Each family member says one or two things (big or small) that they are grateful for from today. Tips for kids: When you write down or say out loud what you CHERISH it helps remind you of the good you have in your life and that can lead to happier feelings. Thank Green Glory for protecting you from Red Rant. For more information, please visit www.character-u.com. Anno

Definition: To believe in yourself. To believe in your abilities. To like yourself. To trust yourself. To believe you will achieve. To know you are worthy of love and respect. To have a high self-esteem. Inner strength. Activity: Think of something that you are struggling with and don't believe you can do it. Repeat saying… “I don’t know how to do X (fill in your struggle), but I know I’ll figure it out with enough hard work.” Write down three things you like about you

Today I’m writing about Confidence which was the 1st C of “The 12 Cs” I created. I believe confidence is the foundation to a happy and fulfilled life and it is a critical life lesson to teach our children and live ourselves. Most of us struggle with confidence and I certainly have struggled with it. However, my confidence has greatly improved since I became more aware through researching it for my book, The Adventures of Ooga and Zeeta, and Life Skills for Kids Workshop. I

Definition: To care about the feelings of another and help them feel better. To treat others as you would like to be treated. To build and sustain healthy friendships. To include others. To have tolerance and accept others as they are. Activities: Hand out “Compassion” notes to deserving people. Link is...Compassion notes Tips for kids: Everyone’s goal in life is to be happy and showing your COMPASSION helps others reach their happy goal. You can make a positive d

Start the new year off by re-stocking your life skills toolbox for you and your children with ‘The 12 Cs’. For 12 days I will post definitions and activities of these 12 life tools. I believe that everyone can benefit from strengthening their life skills so they can lead the most fulfilled life possible. As the author of The Adventures of Ooga and Zeeta and the creator of the Life Skills for Kids workshop I put together the 12 Days of The 12 Cs to help refuel you and your fam

Cherish is one of The 12 Cs: 12 essential life tools helping children thrive. In my book, The Adventures of Ooga and Zeeta, and my Life Tools Workshop I define Cherish as…To feel thankful and grateful. To focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have. Being mindful. To focus on “can do it” vs. “have to do it.” I included Cherish as one of The 12 Cs because I believe it is necessary to maximize our happiness and it's free and easy to do once one becomes aware of it

I have a great example of pushing through fears and being courageous. Courageous is one of The Cs and was perfectly executed by my 8 year old daughter this weekend. We were at the pool and she wanted to jump off the low diving board. She is a very fearful child and had wanted to jump for a couple of years after watching her friends have fun doing it. She walked to the end of the diving board a few times over the years but wasn't ready to push through her fears. We talk a lot

My name is Gretchen Burman, wife, mother of two children and super excited to start my blog. My mission is to help boys and girls learn The 12 Cs: 12 essential life tools that boys and girls will benefit from being exposed to, learning, and living during the influential childhood years before social pressures and outside influences take over. I do this through my book, The Adventures of Ooga and Zeeta and the Life Skills for Kids Workshops I developed after comprehensive re