Counseling Tip #2

Day 2:

Always follow through on what you say you'll do. Never promise what you can't deliver.

Only make commitments you are 100 percent certain you will keep — this goes for anything and everything, not just rewards and consequences. It is easy in a moment of inspiration to make a promise with the best intentions, only to find that when the time comes to deliver, other things get in the way. This is particularly true when it comes to doling out consequences, especially in an emotionally charged moment.Kids have the most amazing way of remembering the intricate details of what adults tell them. Not following through diminishes credibility, and credibility is a hard thing to regain once it is lost. Inconsistency in adults is one of the most common things children encounter, so the opposite is also true. Being the kind of person who always follows through on what you say, elevates your status in the eyes of your campers immeasurably. This is, in fact, one of the most common qualities kids talk about when they speak about the adults whom they trust the most. It is a simple point, yet it can make all the difference.