Making Hope Happen Article by Dr. Shane Lopez
What is Hope?
The essence of hope is having the drive to set and pursue goals,
to take risks, to initiate action. Hope fuels problem-solving and it helps us
develop personal strengths and social resources. More specifically, having hope
makes us more likely to do well in school and to take good care of our health.
Why is Hope Important?
Whether your child is experiencing good times or bad
times, hope can help. During a good day, hope helps him persist on important
tasks, create challenging goals and build new resources. On tough days, hope
helps a child overcome major obstacles.
What Does a "High Hoper" Look Like?
A high-hope child has the motivation to make
things happen. She is energetic in the moment and excited about the future.
Hopeful children are filled with the determination to succeed, thereby actively
engaging in life and all its possibilities.
Teaching Hope
Getting children talking about hope is as easy as asking them a
few questions and discussing the answers:
- What are your hopes and dreams? Which one is most important to you right
now?
- What are all the ways you can think about to make your most important dream come
true?
- Who makes you feel like you matter? How will their love and support help make
your dream come true?
When helping your child become more hopeful, keep in mind that you are teaching
a set of skills that build on what children do naturally: thinking about the
future. With a little help, children can learn how to describe important goals
in terms that are clear and specific and add something to their lives.