We all know that times have changed a lot from when we were kids and we raise our children much differently from how our parents raised us. But still, despite the many changes, the universal truth is that all parents aspire to raise good, well-balanced, healthy children who will grow up into good adults.
Parenting has become a very challenging task. Children are now exposed to much more perils and many parents are left wondering if they’re doing a right job?
It’s the universal question in every mother and father’s head. We’re used to a different kind of raising, so are we raising our kids properly? Are we missing out on something? Is my child going to grow up into a healthy, well-mannered adult?
Well, for all of us out there who are wondering the same things, one Harvard psychologist has an answer to our questions. He recognized the challenges every parent has to face and has conducted a study in order to see what’s most important when it comes to raising a good kid. He was able to discover 3 crucial elements that are the most important aspects of good upbringing and he’s sharing them with all of us. And according to him, parenting can be quite simple, as long as we follow these advices.
3 Advices on Raising a Good Kid
Teach your child to be caring and impose ethics
Credits to: gottadotherightthing.com
The most important thing you need to teach your child from an early age is to be caring, to avoid selfishness and to bond with his closest family. You need to show him how to properly socialize and behave towards others.
You have to be careful how you behave in front of your child because they learn everything by example. Always try to do what’s right so that they will learn to do it as well. As hard as it may be at times, you need to be persistent in your goal to impose good ethical values on your child. This will be very significant later on in life. Show your child that caring for others is as essential as caring for themselves and that other people’s happiness is as vital as their own.
Remind your child that they need to respect their commitments and obligations, keep their promises and mind their manners with friends and family members. Teach your child that every action has its consequences so that he or she can grow up into a responsible adult.
Spend lots of quality time with your child
Credits to: gottadotherightthing.com
You may say that you’re home half of the day, you’re always around your child and that it should be enough. But it’s not just being physically present, you have to things together, spend quality time, play with them, teach them things and without the help of mobile phones and TVs. No amount of screen time can make up for the bonding your kid needs.
Ask your kid what it is that he or she wants to do. Do these things together, be open and make sure his childhood is a happy experience. After all, he won’t remember all the time he spent in front of the TV, he will remember the time you took him to the zoo, you played hide and seek together or you build that lego castle. This is the foundation of every healthy adult.
And it’s not just about playing or having fun. Your child needs to communicate with someone, to share his experiences and ideas with someone and you need to encourage him or her to do it because they’re not always aware of this need. Ask them what happened at school, how their practice was or if there’s something that’s bothering them. Every child wants to share their thoughts and ideas with their parents, they just need to know the parent wants it as well.
Show your child how to see the bigger picture
Credits to: gottadotherightthing.com
Children usually care about their closest friends and family and don’t really understand that there are other important people outside this circle. You need to teach them how to think about all the other people, how to care about them as well, how empathy and support to a stranger perhaps. This may be a new kid in class, the grocery shop lady or the janitor at their school, they need to be polite and kind towards everyone. They need to learn that the world is not just their closest circle of friends and that all the people around him are just as important as the ones he or she cares about.
