Check out "Parent's Place" at www.TheLeaderInMe.org for fun ways to bring the habits home.
Habit 1: Be Proactive To Be Proactive means to take responsibility for your choices and behaviors. Habit 1: Be Proactive is the key to all of the other habits; that's why it comes first. Be Proactive says, "I am the leader of my own life. I am the leader of whether I'm happy or sad. I am the leader of how I react to other people or situations."
Suggested titles that reinforce Habit 1: King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind Begin With the End in Mind means to think about how you would like something to turn out - before getting started. Reading a recipe before cooking or looking at a map before leaving on a trip is beginning with the end in mind. For younger children, thinking about what they want a picture to look like before drawing or looking at the cover of a jigsaw puzzle before putting it together is beginning with the end in mind.
Suggested titles that reinforce Habit 2: Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Habit 3: Put First Things First Put First Things First means to decide what is most important and take care of it first. Thinking about what needs to be done tomorrow or by the end of the week can be overwhelming, especially for children. Through practice, children can learn to think of which things are the most important and take care of them first. This allows children (and adults) to be less stressed. For example, if children can tell you they need a piece of poster board on Thursday or cupcakes on Monday, everyone is better able to prepare.
Suggested titles that reinforce Habit 3: The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone (or other version) The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Habit 4: Think Win-Win Think Win-Win is the belief that everyone can win. It's not you or men, its both of us. It's a belief that there are enough good things for everyone. It's being able to be happy when good things happen to other people. To be able to Think Win-Win, it is important to be strong in Habits 1, 2, and 3. Those habits give us the strong foundation to be leaders of ourselves and our choices. Habit 4: Think Win-Win is the first of the next three habits that address relationships. They teach us how to better interact with others.
Suggested titles that reinforce Habit 4: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Phister The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood means that it is better to listen first and talk second. This habit is best approached by introducing listening as a skill - something that should be practiced. Simply put, we have two ears and one mouth, and should use them accordingly.
Suggested titles that reinforce Habit 5: The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Habit 6: Synergize Habit 6: Synergize is achieved when two or more people work together to create a better solution than either would have thought of alone. it's not your way or my way, but a better way. Think of 1 + 1 = 3 (or more). How is that possible? Well, 1 person + another person = 2 ideas + many, many more that neither or them would have thought of alone. It's taking good ideas and making them better by working together. Synergize is a great tool for families.
Suggested titles that reinforce Habit 6: Swimmy by Leo Lionni A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw Sharpen the Saw means to have balance in your life. The story is that a man was sawing down a tree and not making much progress. When asked why he didn't stop to sharpen his saw, he answered that he was too busy. Habit 7 reminds us that we are more productive when we are in balance: body, brain, heart and soul. If one area is being ignored or overused, the rest will feel the results. A good analogy for children is a car needing all four tires; as leaders of themselves, they need to take care of all four parts of themselves.
Suggested titles that reinforce Habit 7: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats