7 Tips to Encourage a Positive Attitude in Students
byChristopher E. Nelson
“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”—Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking
Negative Thinking is like a giant wall. It closes you in, keeps you from accomplishing goals, and stops you from moving forward in life—whether you’re trying to learn, grow, or just be happy.
A negative attitude will also hold a student back from their true potential. What’s one way to stop this from happening? By encouraging a positive attitude, because having a positive attitude often leads to positive outcomes.
Whether they homeschool, use a traditional brick-and-mortar school, or are enrolled in an accredited virtual school like Connections Academy® —parents can play a huge role in teaching their school-age children how to be more positive and have a better attitude. In turn, those parents can have front-row seats for the amazing transformations that happen when K-12 students begin to believe in themselves and keep a positive attitude.
Practical Tips on How to Develop a Positive Attitude in Students
We know that positive thinking can be good for our physical, mental, and emotional health. Consider these strategies for how to have a positive attitude and teach your online school student how to maintain a positive mindset this year and beyond:
1. Be an example.
Model a positive, encouraging attitude in all that you say, do, and believe. Optimism is contagious. Positive thinking tends to breed positive outcomes, and if your child sees positive outcomes from your attitude, they are more likely to want to experience the same positive outcomes. Show how optimism creates an ideal environment for happiness and how positivity influences the probability of success for any goal you may have. Sometimes seeing is believing, and there’s no better place for your child to see a positive attitude than within you.
2. Create a positive learning space for your student.
What better way to inspire optimism than by establishing a hopeful environment? As you create a homeschool classroom bulletin board or planner, or decorate your child’s online school workspace, post several quotes that are positive attitude examples to keep motivation top of mind. Maybe make it fun and turn your favorite positive quotes into kitchen fridge magnets?
A positive environment can do wonders for eliminating negative thinking and encouraging a healthy learning attitude as your student tackles new academic challenges and opportunities.
3. Help your student visualize positive outcomes for all scenarios.
It’s important to regularly plan goals with your student, and when doing so, clearly set the stage for what success looks like. How will it feel to accomplish the goal? What will the reward be? What does it mean to be successful, and why does it matter? Answering all of these questions can teach your student how to have a positive attitude and remind them of the positive outcomes to look forward to.
4. Eliminate negative talk.
When you hear your student say, “I can’t do it,” take a step back. Bring this negative attitude to your child’s attention. Dive deeper into the meaning behind it. Ask questions:
- “Why can’t you do it?”
- “What’s holding you back?”
- “How can I help?”
- “What do you need to be able to do it?”
From there, lay out a plan for removing those barriers and learning how to have a better attitude. Show your child that you are in this together, and together you can come up with a plan to turn “I can’t” into “We can.”
Additionally, volunteering or giving to someone in similar or more dire circumstances than you can have an impact on reversing negative attitudes into positive ones. Sometimes all that is needed is a shift in perspective to adopt and keep a positive attitude.
Find volunteer opportunities for kids of all ages, and help your student see past their challenges and how to be more positive.
5. Help your student change negative thinking patterns.
As you bring your child’s negative words and thoughts to their attention, make sure you’re encouraging them to replace negative thoughts with positive attitude examples. This is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, which is designed to change people’s thinking or behavioral patterns that are linked to certain difficulties. In this case, the concept is simple: When you have a negative thought or reaction, notice it and replace it with a positive one. The more your student does this, the more positive their attitude, words, and actions will be.
6. Be your student’s biggest fan.
As an online school parent or Learning Coach, your attitude has a big influence on your child’s self-confidence. Your belief in your student can help them learn to feel confident and self-accepting. Consider trying some of these self-acceptance activities to make your child aware of his or her unique strengths and weaknesses. In turn, your student can begin thinking positively, developing self-esteem, and embracing their own identity.
7. Set up a rewards system that encourages positivity.
It’s not unusual for children to lack motivation to be positive, especially when they’re dealing with a defeat or a sense of failure. Setbacks are a part of life, but how do you teach a child to keep their chin up when things are going badly? The answer may be a rewards system that provides positive reinforcement for optimism. Follow these steps to implement a rewards system for your youngster.
Keep Your Positive Attitude About Online School
Being positive 24/7 is difficult for most people, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try harder to maintain a positive mindset. Here are some online school students’ and families’ words of appreciation for the virtual school community to remind you why being a part of Connections Academy is reason for a cheerful outlook.
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