The introductory lesson defines “perseverance” for the child. Then, through a dialog of a few questions and answers, the value of determination is highlighted.  This activity is includes making a word-ring. The child will glue together the individual letters of the word PERSEVERE on cardboard or card stock.  After each subsequent lesson, additional words can be added to the ring. This tangible and visual aid is very useful when for review and/or reinforcement at other times or during subsequent lessons.

Teach the “I will…” Statements using a visual aid.  Post this cute board and the 4 “I will…” statements for a quick reviewed. The statements include:

• “I will set goals.”
• “I will ignore distractions.”
• “I will face problems head-on.”
• “I will not give up.”

These questions are easily adaptable when reading stories about people (or animals, lol!) who persevered. One such book is referenced below “Click, Clack, Moo”. In another post, I listed 24 books which I summarize. These engage a child’s imagination, teaching kids how to handle difficulties, challenges, and failure like the characters in the story.

This is my personal favorite! Who doesn’t like ice cream?  An “Ice cream in a bag experiment” provides a very motivating activity to practice determination.  Eating the ice cream after the experiment demonstrates the positives of patience and effort.

This lesson offers the opportunity to discuss the outcome of working hard toward a goal. It also offers suggested dialog for discussing when we don’t achieve what we desire. She wisely points out that one can work long and hard for a race, but not win. She explains that “…we do yield positive results when we do persevere, even if it’s not what we originally hoped. It builds in us strength, character and hope.”

Obedience to parents or others in authority requires determination for children of any age.  Kids crafts a keepsake necklac. Wearing it reminds them to perservere in obediance.  Store tokens (she used pennies) of any kindinside the necklace demonstrates obedience.

The necklace pictured is more feminine in color and decorations. Both colors and decorations could easily be substituted for more masculine one. Camouflage colors or paper could be used. Boys would enjoy applying superhero, pirate, or Transformer stickers to the small containers of tokens.

This lesson condenses the components of determination into easy to remember words: Patience, Practice, Perseverance. Again, Jodi uses several techniques to foster learning:

• alliteration of key words for the child’s expanding vocabulary,
• reduction of a wordy explanation of the key components of perseverance down to three easy to remember words,
• conjunction of key vocabulary words with a challenging activity most kids love-rock climbing!

Determination when learning a new skill always begins with setting a personal goal. Goal setting is inherent with children. A toddler sets a goal to retrieve the toy at the top of the stairs. Without even thinking about it, the child begins the long trip up the stairs the only way possible he/she can-climbing. Sometimes items along long climb up need to be shoved out of the way. The child may need to stop on the way up for a rest. The child may even ignore instructions from a parent to stop climbing. The conscious effort to do all that is not often inherent and must be trained. Especially for non-preferred tasks.

This lesson involves asking the child to define a goal that requires perseverance. For example, they might set goals for athletics, music, academics, or spiritual growth. This lesson is important in that it bridges the gap between exercising perseverance naturally (without thought or conscious effort) to training thinking about and planning to achieve a challenging goal:

• the desire to complete a challenge,
• the ways to overcome the difficulties in achieving the goal,
• the problem-solving required to overcome obstacles or failures along the way , and
• the recognition of the benefit of sticking with the goal. The pleasure and excitement of achievement experienced can motivate the putting of this process in their “toolbox” of skills.

The book “Click Clack Moo” by Doreen Cronin paired with a toilet paper roll cow craft makes for a delightful lesson on determination. Discussion questions listed focus on the book’s characters who show perseverance. They examine how the characters persevered and the positive results they achieved through applied effort. This lesson is well suited for a child who is creative and enjoys reading.