Prior Lake Kicks off Say Yes to No

Almost 500 parents and educators kicked off the Say Yes to No campaign in Prior Lake last Monday evening at the Prior Lake High School. In my talk I focused on the real secret to kids’ success: helping kids gain self-discipline. Self-discipline is twice the predictor of school success as intelligence. It’s all about giving kids what they need to succeed and how parents and educators can help them with future success.

One parent related how “I have to get better at saying No to myself. Kids have never been as good at listening to their parents. They are good at copying their parents. I often take the easy way out: going out to eat when we can’t afford it and impulse shopping for things that I don’t really need. I realize that my kids are learning from what I am doing.”

This parent has realized the fallacy in the old saying “Do as I say, not as I do.” Kids are perceptive and their first and key role-models for what is really important in the world are their parents. Our culture constantly pushes instant gratification, take the easy way. Role modeling No when it is important for ourselves is key to our kids success.