Table Topics Updated daily!
March 25, 2008
Mind-stretching brain games and
conversation starters.
It's the perfect opportunity for sharing stories, building knowledge,
strengthening character, and having fun!
Think About It – Are You A Hustler Or A Dawdler?
Do you have one or more dawdlers in the family? You know the person, usually late,
often looking for something at the last minute, frustrating other people who want to
get the show on the road. What can be done?
Remember that every behavior has a reward or a punishment (or both to varying degrees).
The dawdler, therefore, is finding some reward in the always-late behavior pattern.
To change the behavior, the reward must be changed.
As an example, let’s take bedtime. Bedtime is announced and the dawdler discovers
that a homework assignment still needs to be completed; or it takes 25 minutes to
wash a face and brush a set of teeth; or, “I have to see the end of this movie,
all my friends are watching it!’ Sound familiar? The reward, of course, is the
postponement of bedtime.
Try this technique instead. “It is now 8:30, you need to start getting ready for bed.
When you are ready we will have story time and then lights out at 9:00.
Now the reward is the time spent together reading a storybook. Motivation to get ready
for bed is increased and dawdling disappears.
Give this a try parents, and see what happens. But, you absolutely have to be
consistent with the time for lights out no matter what! What other areas of
family life could be improved with less dawdling?
Can One Person Motivate Another?
Read more about influencing the behavior of others
Play A Game – Mental Math
Here's a challenging, no equipment necessary,
math game. The best part is that it adapts easily
to the skill level of each individual.
Played Round Robin one player starts by
creating a math problem and stating the answer.
For example:
73 - 19 = 54.
The next player must start
with 54. A player with beginning skills could say,
"54 is greater than 50."
Play passes to the next
person. Assuming this person has an advanced skill
in math, the next problem could be, "50 squared is
2500." Continue around the table.
Beginning learners will most likely appreciate
suggestions if they appear stumped. A gentle nudge
might be necessary to discourage slackers from
choosing operations below their skill level.
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