Our children are so important to us and so integral to the happiness of our lives that sometimes we forget that they will not always stay young and safe in our arms. Every step you take, every lesson you teach them as children directly affects whom they will grow up to become.
We can set them up for strong mental development by giving them educational toys and unconditional love, but they will need more clear boundaries as they get older. The most important thing is to establish a clear and unwavering disciplinary system.
Children respond well to discipline. They may fight back, but this is a good thing as it shows independent thinking. They are also sponges in that they learn just as much from watching their parents as they do from what they are formally taught. Therefore, parents must be sure to give their children a home life that is rife with positive learning opportunities.
Relax and Be Happy
Finding your own happiness and taking the time to relax and de-stress can make you a better parent. Research has shown that happy parents raise happy children. Your children are very attuned to your mental state, and when you are visibly stressed and unhappy, it makes them very uncertain and anxious as well.
Taking care of yourself, taking breaks, and making sure that you do activities that relax you and bring you joy is a gift you give your children. They will have a happy and involved parent and learn how to treat themselves better and respect their physical and emotional limits.
Chores Are Necessary
Some parents do not let their children do any chores around the house so that they can relax and concentrate on their studies. But chores teach responsibility, hard work, and accountability. These are essential skills without which your child will not be able to succeed in life.
Children may give attitude and leave chores half-done, but you must discipline them and make sure they do the job right. They are too young to see the values you are instilling in them. As they grow older and begin living on their own, they will realise the value of what you taught them.
Read to Them Regularly
Instill a love of reading in your children as early as possible. Children who love to be read to will learn to read themselves, which will improve their literacy to such an extent that they will adapt to the formal learning environment much better.
Children who enjoy reading are more curious and likely to apply themselves in school. They also absorb values from the books they read and are more likely to be accepting and friendly to their classmates. Books allow children a safe way to explore the world and learn how to react in different situations before stepping out into it.
Expect the Best of Them
Your children look to you to know what they are capable of achieving. If you expect the best of them, they will live up to your expectations. This does not mean pushing them into sports or activities that they do not enjoy.
Work with them to find a sport or school club that they enjoy, then help them be the best at their chosen activity. Sports and extracurricular activities will help strengthen your child’s cognitive skills and allow them to gain a finer ability to focus and perform. Giving them encouragement and support in their chosen endeavour will help them know how to approach tasks with dedication and stay with them until they succeed.
Praise your children the right way. Research has shown that praising a child for arbitrary qualities such as intelligence and good looks harms their mental well-being. Children must be praised for the effort and hard work they put into an activity.
This encourages them to continue putting in that same effort and hard work into other areas of their life. These are the kind of good habits that they will then grow up with and play an essential part in becoming successful adults.
