It Begins With You
No one can influence your child as much as you, as
long as you’re spending quality time with your son or daughter. No one and
nothing! It’s very easy for children to get caught up in gangs and peer
pressure if their parents aren’t showing that they care. As a parent, you must
take responsibility for your child and you must build the foundation in your
child so that outside influences don’t become more important than parental
influence. It all begins with you.
Show
Your Love
Shower your child with kisses and hugs. Everyday
tell your child that you love them, and back that up with patience and
sensitivity. Always You should be your child’s biggest cheerleader and build
their confidence. Smile. Listen to your child and don’t assume you know all the
answers. And once again, spend time with your child. Communicating with your
child becomes much easier when you spend quality time by going to museums, or
to the park or simply talking over dinner.
Reading
Reading is one of the most important things you can
teach your child and will significantly enhance your child’s chances of
success. Reading is the great equalizer and it can put you on the same level
with just about anybody, anywhere. Reading can take you places you’ll never go
and help you see things you’ve never seen before. You should read books and
have books in your home for your child. If you can’t buy books, then get a
library card and use your local library. Have a reading hour with your child.
Treat reading like something that your child’s life will depend on, and you’ll
probably be right.
The
Most Important Years
Between birth and the age of five is where critical
values are instilled in your child, and either you can put those values in your
child, or they’ll pick them up wherever they can. During these years, the
foundation of your child’s life will be formed and you must be responsible for
driving the proper values. Respect, spirituality, honesty, integrity and
accountability are only a few of the foundational elements you should put in
your child. And the easiest way to do it is for you to live a life with these
values. You see, it truly begins with you.
The
Environment
Take control of the conditions that will influence
your son or daughter. Since there are so many things that can influence a child
today, it’s key to remember that you are the parent and you know better than
your child what is best. You have to manage your child’s friends, the
television, video games and your household. Control what you can control,
influence what you can influence and let the rest go.
House
Rules
Establishing house rules will set the framework for
good behavior in your home. Your house rules are also a means for you to
establish daily expectations. It’s important to establish your own house rules
because you’ll find every house and every child has slightly different rules
and sometimes no rules at all. When a person enters your house, they must abide
by your rules. House rules apply for both visiting children and adults. You
must be consistent.
Managing
Expectations
Show and tell your children what is expected.
Children will typically do what’s expected of them. That’s not always the case
with adults, but children will usually meet expectations. And there lies the
rub; too many parents have low or virtually no expectations of their children.
How ridiculous! Your child will perform to the level of what is expected, and
if not much is expected not much can be gained. Set high expectations.
Role
model behaviour
Find either a parent like the parent you want to be,
or find a child that is like the child you want yours to become. Once you find
that behavior, try to copy it. Meet with the parent and tell them that you like
how they’ve raised their child and you’d like to know how they did it. You’ll
get all kinds of great suggestions and possibly a mentor, but more importantly
another parent whose advice you can use.
Attitude
is Everything
Controlling your attitude can determine your
destiny. You can change your habits and your attitude is a habit. Positive
thinking is a habit and an attitude that you should instill in your child. You
are what you think, so controlling your thinking can control your world. A
positive attitude will give you the ability to change how you see life and the
life of your child. People want to be around others with a good attitude.
Besides, having a positive attitude is fun.
Enjoy
Life
Have fun in raising your child. Every day is a
blessing and some days will be more challenging than others. Make the best of
whatever you have. Happiness is not based on money so don’t let money determine
your happiness. Make a difference in the life of your child and then make a
difference in the lives of others. You are one of God’s great creations and
both you and your child can be almost anything you want to be. Enjoy the moment
because children grow up so fast. Laugh, cry, smile and love. Tomorrow is
promised to no one so live your life to the fullest every day, and be the best
parent that you can be.
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