ABSTRACT
The important thing to achieve through this exercise is to emphasise as many positives to the child as possible. To reinforce this, you could say something like, “How am I going to fit all the things that make you special in such a small space?” (Obviously to say something like this involves you having a positive relationship with a child otherwise this could be interpreted as insincere or sarcastic.)
In order to gain the best results, it is necessary to give reasons as to why you have written a particular positive in order for the child to fully understand what you mean. However, some children find it difficult to receive compliments, especially if they are used to hearing negative responses to their ‘unwanted’ behaviour. If this is the case, don’t spend too much time talking to the child about what you have written. Instead, leave it to be taken home and digested in private.
