Page 33 - SB-Newton and the Needy Newts

EXERCISE
A common problem for most children and many adults is the inability to recognize when we are being needy. We don’t understand that our thinking that is causing it or what would be better (non-needy) thinking about the situation.
The Exercise of the story takes advantage of having others work with you so that by working together both can learn how not to be needy newts.
Rewarding behaviors associated with the Good Thinking of the “Newton” story (the behavior of the frogs) is more difficult than recognizing the needy Stinky Thinking. As a parent or instructor, you will need to be alert to the non-needy behavior of your Newton- like children.
The child who works diligently instead of frequently asking for help and the child who congratulates another for making a better grade or the highest score are demonstrating frog type behavior that should be reinforced.
A child who goes out of their way to be helpful to others (with no obvious attempt to get praise or reward) is again being a frog. Reinforce any frog behavior that seems to be coming from a Good Thinking framework.
By the same token, any child who can admit to newt type thinking “I just did that so everyone would notice me... it was stupid,” can be rewarded for this recognition. Encourage them to replace that Stinky (newt) Thinking with Good (frog) Thinking.
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