Denny Strecker's Blog

Do Not Accept One Word Answers

Posted December 31st, 2008

Today’s tip is not accepting one word answers. Here is a typical conversation between a parent and child:
The child gets home from school and walks in the door,
Parent, "How was school today?"
Child, "Fine."
Parent, "What did you learn?"
Child, "Nothin."
Parent, "You didn’t learn ANYTHING today, you just sat in your chair [...]

You Possess Tremendous Power

Posted December 29th, 2008

 The following is one of my favorite tools in teaching the “Denny Strecker’s Karate” system to the teachers and assistant teachers. It easily translates to parenting skills!
 Concerning a Teacher’s (Parent’s) Influence:
 
 
"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom (home). It’s my personal approach that creates [...]

Guide Your Child Toward Success

Posted December 26th, 2008

This is an excerpt from Professor Paul Pilzer, author of "Unlimited Wealth" and "Other People’s Money"…"One of the questions I am frequently asked by parents, particularly parents who have succeeded themselves but didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, is what subject their son or daughter should study in college in order to achieve [...]

Prepare to Shine in 2009!

Posted December 24th, 2008

Would you like to see 2009 be your best year ever?
No matter how great these past few years have been, there is a great chance that you would like to see next year be your best ever.
 
The way you finish this year, will have a lot of influence on the way you begin the New [...]

Present a United Front

Posted December 22nd, 2008

This tip is one of the most fundamental skills of parenting, but I have yet to see it used in more than a handful of situations.
Present a United Front means that there should be 1 set of rules for a child, no matter where they go. With a single set of rules, the child [...]

To Improve Those Around You…Start with Yourself!

Posted December 19th, 2008

One of my favorite quotes is:
 “Of What Use To Make Heroic Vows of Amendment, If the Same Old Lawbreaker Is To Keep Them?” Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
This quote has a special significance for me. In the mid-1990’s, I began to aggressively set goals in my personal and my professional life. At the beginning of each [...]

Remove Negative Words from Your Vocabulary

Posted December 17th, 2008

This skill is easily the most challenging for adults. Since we live in a negative based society, it takes a lot of focus to remove all negative words from your vocabulary.

Now, do not confuse this skill with never disciplining your child. The challenge is to say no without using that word.
An example [...]

The Enemy of Excellence is “Good Enough”

Posted December 15th, 2008

Time and time again I see parents setting the bar so LOW for their child to the point that there is no possibility of failure. When I ask them why they aim so low, the most common response is, "I don’t want them to fail at anything."
An example of this happened to me some [...]

Always Be One Step Ahead of Your Child

Posted December 10th, 2008

I have found that parenting ideas swing back and forth just like a pendulum. Our parents raised us with a firm hand, and the idea that children where meant to be seen – not heard. Today’s generation has swung to the polar opposite with Time Outs and Compromising. Somewhere in between these to extremes lies [...]

How to Win Over Your Fears

Posted December 8th, 2008

If you really want to do something you will always find a way. But if you don’t want to do it, you will find excuses. The easiest way to combat fear is by not using excuses. Instead, you need to look for the positive approaches to accomplish your goal.
FEAR is always your enemy. Look [...]