Stamina
Stamina is the ability to do something for a long time without getting tired or giving up.
For some children, it helps to focus on just reading or writing stamina, while others can use this for general school work, waiting, or any other area where stamina can be improved. Increased stamina leads to more independence.
At the beginning, it might be difficult for your child to demonstrate more than a few minutes of stamina at a time, but this is a step-by-step process to a long term goal. The end goal is the ability for a child to self-regulate long enough to effectively participate in learning and life events:
- Field trips
- Waiting in line at the grocery store
- Visiting relatives
- Working independently
- and more...
Charting a child's stamina is a great, visual way for them to watch their growth!
Resources
Go to the "Social Emotional Learning" section in our class Moodle page to download a blank stamina chart and other resources to use at home.
Check out these links for more ideas and information:
- Building stamina in 5 ways: https://lightsailed.com/five-ways-to-create-a-class-of-stamina-superstars/
- Building writing stamina: http://primarycornerstone.com/2018/03/14/building-writing-stamina-power-writing.html
Activities and Ideas
- Post the stamina chart near your child's work area so they can keep track of how their stamina is growing.
- Set a weekly or monthly stamina goal. Celebrate the pride and accomplishment when the goal is met (but try to avoid rewards).
- Practice at the same time as your child so they see this as a whole-life skill rather than a school-related skill.