StarmanMBA
Active member
When my children were growing up, I played handball with them and neighboring kids on our garage door. That has to be the best possible use for a wooden garage door. Metal is much too noisy and flimsy.
Anyway, when the foursquare ball would bounce into the street, every kid would rush out to get it. I had to change their way of thinking to prevent being hit by a car.
Eureka! Bribery. "If the ball rolls out into the street, and a car runs over it, I will buy you TWO new ones. No cheating. It has to be an accident. That goes for your bicycle or anything else. I'll give you two to replace the one. I can buy new bikes or handballs, but I can't buy a new you."
After that, you must believe me, they religiously looked for a car to come, perchance to get two new balls. I never did have to buy any, but would have been more than happy to.
Since bicycles are in the discussion, I must add this tip on teaching beginners how to ride a bicycle for the first time. Have you noticed how children simply freeze their arms when they start riding? Locked into place. The exact opposite of how you really ride a bike. So my tip for them is to wiggle the handle bars the moment they start peddling.
Back and forth, back and forth. Make the movement natural from the outset, and when they feel the effects of the motion, they correct in the right way very quickly. Mere minutes.
Anyway, when the foursquare ball would bounce into the street, every kid would rush out to get it. I had to change their way of thinking to prevent being hit by a car.
Eureka! Bribery. "If the ball rolls out into the street, and a car runs over it, I will buy you TWO new ones. No cheating. It has to be an accident. That goes for your bicycle or anything else. I'll give you two to replace the one. I can buy new bikes or handballs, but I can't buy a new you."
After that, you must believe me, they religiously looked for a car to come, perchance to get two new balls. I never did have to buy any, but would have been more than happy to.
Since bicycles are in the discussion, I must add this tip on teaching beginners how to ride a bicycle for the first time. Have you noticed how children simply freeze their arms when they start riding? Locked into place. The exact opposite of how you really ride a bike. So my tip for them is to wiggle the handle bars the moment they start peddling.
Back and forth, back and forth. Make the movement natural from the outset, and when they feel the effects of the motion, they correct in the right way very quickly. Mere minutes.