Listen to the article:
Having well-adjusted children begins with confident and tolerant adults. All parents want their children to grow into successful, happy, and compassionate adults, but that starts by teaching it to children when they are very young.
Occasionally, the development of children’s behaviors and life skills is dependent on good habits from the parents. Here are habits for you that will assist in guiding your children on the right path too.
#1 Set and Enforce Clear Limits. Children need boundaries and rules. This keeps them safe and teaches them to listen, follow instructions, respect property and other people. Setting clear limits for your child requires extra effort on your part. Once the guidelines are in place, they need to be explained and enforced on a consistent basis. Children start testing their boundaries at a very young age, so putting it in place sooner than later will benefit your child in many areas of life.
#2 Establish Routines. Regardless of how much you want to be an easy going, go with the flow parent, establishing routines will help your child feel secure. Simple routines like a regular bedtime, eating dinner together each night, or snuggling with a book before lights out will provide much-needed normalcy for your child.
#3 Read Regularly. Reading to your child daily will strengthen your bond and inspire more conversation for both of you. Also, reading aloud to children increases their learning ability and teaches them to confidently engage in conversations. They will learn to read and write sooner, and it expands their vocabulary.
#4 Play with Your Kids. Playing with your kids reinforces your relationship and it gets their creative juices flowing. Have fun and be goofy on occasion. When you interact with your child and make him laugh you’ll create lifelong happy memories.
#5 Give Lots of Hugs. This should be an easy one, but it’s important nonetheless. Hugs release oxytocin, a natural hormone that is also called the love hormone.
Now that essential habits have been established for you, here are a few more that you must teach your children.
#6 Chores. When children learn chores, they’re learning important tasks that will be used when they are out on their own and will help them understand responsibility and the necessity of hard work in life.
#7 Early Bedtime. Enforcing the rule of an early bedtime and explaining how the brain and body need sleep will instill a habit that will promote good health and proper development.
#8 Learning Music is a Must. Teaching your child to appreciate music is a habit that will inspire creativity, hard work, time management and more. Playing an instrument is extremely beneficial for the brain. It helps in the development of a child’s brain and it protects the elderly from degenerative brain diseases. Learning to play an instrument or reading music bridges the gap between the left and right brain hemispheres and increases happiness and overall well-being.
Establishing routines and habits increases success, organization, and strengthens relationships. Depending on your child’s age, ask him for input on what habits he considers important in life and why.
Thought Starters:
- Reflecting on Parental Discipline: How can parents effectively balance the enforcement of clear limits with understanding and compassion? Think about your approach to discipline and how it impacts their children's behavior and emotional well-being.
- Evaluating the Role of Routines: What are the specific routines that could be established in a family to promote a child's sense of security and well-being? Consider what daily or weekly routines might be most beneficial for their family dynamics and their child's development.
- Exploring the Benefits of Reading: In what ways can regular reading sessions contribute to a child's cognitive and emotional development? Delve deeper into the impact of reading on their child's learning, communication skills, and bond with the parent.
- Analyzing the Importance of Play: How does playing with children not only strengthen the parent-child relationship but also foster creativity and emotional health in children? Parents can consider the various forms of play and how each can positively impact their child's development.
- Considering the Value of Music Education: What are the long-term cognitive and emotional benefits of learning music for children? Think about how music education can be integrated into their child's life and its potential effects on their brain development and overall well-being.
Suggested Questions To Ask Your Child:
- What kind of routines do you enjoy or would like to have in our daily life?
This question is related to the article’s emphasis on establishing routines. It encourages the child to think about and express their preferences for daily or weekly routines, which can help in creating a structured and comforting environment for them.
- What is your favorite book or story, and why do you like it?
Since the article highlights the importance of reading regularly to children, this question aims to engage the child in a conversation about their reading interests. It also helps the parent understand the child's literary preferences, which can foster a deeper bond and encourage a love for reading.
- Would you like to learn how to play a musical instrument? If so, which one and why?
Given the article's mention of the benefits of learning music, this question allows the child to explore their interest in music and musical instruments. It opens up a dialogue about creative expression and can lead to a discussion about starting music lessons, reflecting the article's encouragement of music education for cognitive and emotional development.
- How do you feel about helping with chores around the house?
This question ties into the article's point about teaching children chores to learn responsibility and hard work. It can help the parent gauge the child's attitude towards chores and discuss the importance of contributing to household tasks.
- What makes you feel loved and secure?
The article suggests giving lots of hugs and creating secure environments for children. This question aims to understand what actions or routines make the child feel loved and secure, allowing the parent to adjust their approach to meet the child's emotional needs better.
