The Invisible Box – Help Your Kids Escape

Parents and teachers, are your kids afraid of taking risks?

Are you afraid your kids won’t develop their talents? Do they hide inside the Invisible Box?

Let’s learn a fun way to help your kids risk wisely, develop their talents, and stay out of the Invisible Box.

Mike presented a contest talk entitled “The Invisible Box.” With his arms extended, he drew an imaginary box about 7′ high and 3′ wide. Next, he stepped inside and shut its invisible door. Mike said that too many people live inside their hidden boxes. How does this apply to your kids?

– The invisible box is where they nurse their hurts and grudges.

– The invisible box is the place where their negative attitudes fester.

– The invisible box is where they make multiple excuses and hide.

Years ago, I came across a super technique I have used with my kids. It is called the Thomas Alva Edison Award. Mr. Edison tried to invent the light bulb over 1,000 times. He didn’t give up, and he finally succeeded. Next, I showed my children two small plastic trophies I had picked up from the Dollar Store.

I told my kids to share times when they worked hard to achieve something. Then I promised to give them the Thomas Alva Edison Award.

That meant they could have a dime or ten pennies in their trophy cup each time they tried something hard. My son, being older, wanted dimes. My daughter wanted pennies.

Even today, we’ll sit around the Sunday breakfast table. The kids know I will ask them, “Did you do anything deserving of the Thomas Alva Edison Award?” They brighten up and start talking. Let’s see some goals each girl achieved.

My son, Scooter:
He climbed a steep rock at kids’ camp and reached the top.
He practiced until she could perform the center splits.
He received reached the level of black belt in Taekwondo.

My daughter, Bean:
She learned to do a cartwheel with one hand.
Prayed out loud in a room full of adults.
She figured out how to do a magic trick.

See how easy it is? Over the past two years, my kids have often filled their trophies to the brim. We love seeing the many ways our children are pushing themselves to grow.

So do their grandparents as they listen to their grandchildren’s feats. The kids love the attention from all of us while they share their stories. It is truly a bonding experience.

You should consider using this technique with your children. They’ll develop their talents, take risks, and free themselves from the Invisible Box. Isn’t this a fun way to build character?