Parents need to...

Welcome back!

Haw many times have you faced the situation when you have to witness your young one doing exactly the opposite of what you would want him/her to do? I am sure, countless times.

This situation is so common that not much attention is paid by us. We think that it is okay if the child does what he/she is asked not to. I agree it is part of being a child but what I want to emphasize here is how we, as parents need to educate our children about things that they shouldn't do. The essence is in the approach. Before I get into the details, I would like to share what I feel as parents we need to learn first and foremost before we even start to expect from our kids.

There are simple prerequisites of parenthood:

1. No parent is perfect, don't even try to get there. It's okay if you fail, you will gain something valuable out of it. Parents need to love and understand their children more than anything else.

2. Parenting can only be done by example. You will have to behave the way you want your children to. Children are our mirrors, they are great at imitating.

3. Follow up with communicating with them. Start talking to them at an early age. Even if they do not understand or respond, their brains always register what you are saying. These form the early stages of memory and brain development.

4. Till five years of age, their brains are developing, so the seeds of discipline, language, love, respect and overall behavior are sown during these formative years.

5. Listen to your children, pay attention to them, even if you think you have heard the same stuff before. Respond, with your body as well as your attention.

6. Show them that you trust them, so they tell you everything. But mentally, keep your mind open for the other side of the story. Let them know that you are always there, no matter what.

7. Observe your children at all times, know their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Study them closely, and make a mental note of their development.

8. Teach them basic values but do not overload them with too much information at one time. Segregate the information and teach them one at a time, keeping in mind their age and attention span.

9. Let them know at an early age, the priorities. Starts from food, sleep and toilet routine, and later includes education, behavior, hobbies, sports, health, etc.

10.  Love and respect are gained and not forced. To get your children's love and respect, you will need to earn them by working towards your relationship with them. Be sensitive to their needs and firm when they become difficult. You don't need to be harsh just determined. Remember, they are watching and they will pick each and everything that you do, sooner or later.


I hope you will share your learning and let me know if you find any of my tips helpful. So long!

Happy Parenting!