There is an old Native American proverb that says:

“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

In essence, we are borrowing everything from our children. The relationships that form the societies of the future depend on the wisdom we can impart to our children, now.

This list by Leah Davies, M.Ed. archived at the Kelly Bear website does exactly that. While it is suggested for teachers and counsellors, it is also a great resource for any parent truly invested in the well-being of their child, and can be practised at home on the same weekly and daily basis.

The following quotes may be used in a variety of ways by both teachers and counsellors. One idea is for a thought to be posted, read, and discussed at the beginning of each week. It could then be read daily with the students. At the end of the week ask them what they learned or how the thought applied to their lives or activities during the week. Have the children give written or oral examples, or have them draw a picture to illustrate their ideas.