Free the Horses builds character, says leader

Building an "I can do it" attitude in children is the essential part of any solid learning program. During the past year I have been introducing children to the joys of being able to control their own thoughts, feelings and behavior.

by Linda Proctor

Free the Horses: A Self-Esteem Adventure is a character-building program which provides an important part of a child's social tool box. The most critical part of Free the Horses is realizing the incredible power that children have in their lives when they learn to control their thinking. For children who have little control over their own lives, this can be an awakening. Understanding the Think-Feel-Do Cycle removes the word "blame" and replaces it with "personal responsibility." Free the Horses has done much to empower the lives of children to once again believe that they really can do it.

This is the most important self-esteem program that I have used. It is the best way for giving children coping skills--skills that will last for a lifetime. Many children have seen a lot of teasing or bullying, but when they find out that being a friend means treating others with kindness, they learn to take responsibility for their own choices.

When children practice the Think-Feel-Do cycle they are given the opportunity to see immediate positive or negative results of this cycle. Even personally as an adult, I have the power to respond to situations I face. Everything should start in my head and ripple on to the things I do. As a former elementary school teacher, I believe Free the Horses should be part of every school program, not just a part of the health curriculum.

How incredible it would be if parents would learn this skill--to change their thoughts and their approach to their children.

Linda Proctor, a certified Active Parenting trainer, is available to conduct a two-hour teacher training workshop to help teachers introduce FTH in their class. Contact her at her new location in Ottawa, Ontario, at 613-692-7607.

Free the Horses: A Self-Esteem Adventure


Reprinted from Leader magazine.
Copyright 1999 by Active Parenting Publishers, Inc.