Have a lovely day
Talking about Safe and Responsible Choices on a Sunny Sunday.
Today some of the girls went to the pool in Concha to enjoy the sun. They wanted to go to the lake, but because of some of their choices this week, they were not allowed and this allowed me to discuss with them the fact that ‘’ When we make undisciplined choices, there are consequences. Same for disciplined choices, only that the consequences are positive ‘’.
A few minutes ago we gathered together in the living room and discussed about it. The girls realised that if they want to be happy they have to make good choices, have self discipline and lead their lives more responsible. Life is a school that never ceases to teach us and that we are the master of our future and it if we don’t work well towards it the outcome will probably not be an enjoyable one.
We hope they take every word with them for life and start rethinking about their dure choices.
Well-being 5 Pillar. Decision Making. Consequences. Mistakes. The adolescent brain.
Following our Well-Being Programme, today’s conversation was about decision making and consequences.
Decision making is the process of making choices by identifying a decision, gathering information, and assessing alternative resolutions. Using a step-by-step decision-making process can help us make more deliberate, thoughtful decisions by organizing relevant information and defining alternatives.
The Consequences of Choice: The Final Step in Decision Making
Before moving ahead with a decision, it is imperative to consider possible adverse consequences of feasible alternatives. The negative consequences of any action are as tangible as its benefits, sometimes more so. Once a decision has been made and implemented, any of its negative effects will eventually become real problems. The effects of decisions—good or bad—always outlive the decision-making process that produced them.
We all make mistakes . Helping teenagers learn from their mistakes
In today’s world where we tend to focus on success and money, mistakes are frowned on. This attitude has been past on to our teenagers. Some parents don’t expect their teens to make a mistake or fail at something. If their teen does make a mistake, the consequences can be severe.
Teenagers are very aware of the pressure on them to succeed and never make a mistake. Many teens who make mistakes are terrified of telling their parents because they fear their reaction. Some teens even consider suicide if they failed a test at school. Teens feel this pressure because parents arrange for tutors so they will get good grades. Also parents are sending their teens to courses to prepare them for the SAT test and parents are also arranging for consultants to help their teens get into good colleges. This is a great deal of pressure and stress.
Think back to when your son or daughter was learning to stand or walk. When the child fell, you would tell them good job for trying and keep trying because you will get it. We say this all the time to our little children. However, for some reason when that little child becomes a teenager, mistakes are not as acceptable and often teens get into trouble for making a mistake.
Yes, as a teen their mistakes get bigger and can be very serious. Obviously if a teenager made a mistake of shop lifting or driving while drunk, these are very serious issues and deserve negative consequences the first time they occur. However, if the mistake is they forgot to do their homework or they came home 20 minutes after curfew, these are not as serious and do not require a severe consequence. Remember the consequence needs to be related to the mistake. If it is too severe or if there is no consequence, the teen will not learn anything.
As parents, we need to remember that teens are starting to learn about relationships and how to handle responsibilities as adults. When they were younger they needed to learn how to walk and had to be toilet trained. We were patient with them as little children, why not be patient with them as teens?
When your teenager makes a normal life mistake, instead of getting mad or frustrated look at it as a teaching opportunity and a bonding opportunity. When your teen makes a mistake this gives you an opportunity to discuss what type of adult you would like to see them mature in to and what values as an adult you hope they will have. It is also a chance to grow closer because if you talk with your teen it give you the opportunity to learn about them and for your teen to learn about you.
We also watched this interesting video about the adolescent brain by Dan Siegel
It’s not so easy being an adolescent these days. We become aware of the world around us, are flooded with input through digital media about our extended global family, and learn about the world’s intense and overwhelming problems. And even more, puberty’s onset is getting earlier, and the time between our childhood dependence and adult responsibility over the last century has moved from a couple of years to a dozen or more.
For adolescents, this means that the pruning down of existing neurons and the laying down of myelin sheaths connecting the remaining linked neurons will continue years after we stop referring to them as “teenagers”
Welcome May !!
💃 Happy International Dance Day! 🎶 at Collége du Lèman
🎬 We are very proud of our students who were selected to represent CDL in Juilliard’s Construct-A-Dance challenge. This involved them creating, choreographing, dancing and filming themselves in groups. 🕺
🏅 Our brilliant dancers and passionate teachers Veronika and Sophie were awarded a certificate for their hard work. 👏
A wonderful boarding experience at CDL.
Enrollment 2021-2022 is still open at Collège du Léman. Contact our admissions team at admissions@cdl.ch
https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/en/our-schools/switzerland/cdl/admissions/online-application
Eat a fruit or not? Decisions after decisions. Wellbeing pillar 5.
Today we had a chat over some fruits and it was about decision making. I took an apple and I asked them whether they wanted to eat it or not? And the conversation started there.
I asked them have you ever wondered just how many decisions you make in a day? I got frowned faces. So I answered this question, neuroscientists predict it’s a mind-blowing 35,000! (Yes, I searched about it before, like I do every time we are about to have a debate about a wellbeing project.).
Then I went on to ask them if they could number how many decisions they had to make since they woke up. I started my list by, when I woke up I saw it was 7am so I questioned myself whether I should get up or stay in bed 30more mins. It followed by whether I should drink my coffee with or without milk, go straight to the computer or enjoy my coffee in the sun, drink a second one or wait for brunch, enjoy the sun or open my phone to check messages etc. Then they started to think of all the decisions they made until then and realised that they were actually a lot!
I told them that someone once told me that life is just a series of decisions, one right after another, each determining the life that we lead. Sometimes the decisions are small and inconsequential, like my morning selections. However, sometimes the decisions are big. They have the power to shape us, such as which college to attend, and the degree to pursue, whom to marry or where to settle down. And the ripple effect that follows can feel like you’re riding a tidal wave. Regardless-big or small, every day these choices are written into our story.
So we talked about how to get to the root of decision making and we came up with these 6 steps;
- Identify the problem/conflict to be solved.
- Gather relevant information.
- Brainstorm possible solutions.
- Identify potential consequences.
- Make a choice.
- Take action
This was a great interaction time and now they know that learning to make their own choices help them be more independent, responsible, and confident. It gives them a sense of control over their lives, reducing anxiety and promoting resilience. Furthermore, it encourages self-exploration and helps them to solidify their values.
Let’s continue with more decision making; whether to eat another fruit or stop there? Let’s apply the 6 steps and make a decision!
Virtual Monthly Boarding Assembly. April
Tonight, during our Virtual Boarding Assembly, has been launched the final Pillar of our Wellbeing Programme: “Making Safe and Responsible Choices”
The key take-away points for this Pillar will be three : first , the ESSENCE of teen brain and the science behind decision making process ; second , consequences and third , self-discipline.
Also, our girls will be given only two choices for their Individual Projects. They will have to join either the discipline revolution project or the happiness project
Snack Time
Welcome back from Spring Break !
We hope you had a great holiday! Villa Terray is already open Let’s go for the last stretch of the school year! !! 💪💪
