The words we choose to use.
How we speak to our children is long-lasting. Read here for some thoughts on how to manage ourselves in using effective communication with children.
Keep on with the rules at home
Here are some tips to consider when setting appropriate rules for children at home. Gail Smith. The Primary Years.
Feeling overwhelmed? It can happen to our children.
When a child feels overwhelmed by too much information, they simply shut down as a defence. Children can become just as overwhelmed as adults. Read here on some strategies to help avoid anxiety in your children.
Personality: We need to nurture its development
Do you see many changes in the personalities in your own children over the years? Here are some considerations in different ways to nurture your child’s individual personality.
How to deal with trauma such as the recent school shooting in the USA.
We are confronted by what recently happened in Texas with the mass killing of young children in a school. It is almost impossible to get our heads around this atrocity and as parents, we shudder with the reminder that a parent’s grief for their lost child would be immeasurable. Here's some pointers for parents to help your children understand tragedies like this.
Enjoy the present - it’s here for you now to enjoy
Happiness can be found in all of the smaller moments in life. You just have to stop for a moment and enjoy the present.
A child needs to grow a strong belief in themselves
Our children need to be steadily building a strong belief in themselves. They will put themselves forward and receive some knockdowns but climbing the ladder of being strongly connected to the world will come with mounting strong self-belief.
Always keep the bright side of situations as your focus
Parenting come with a sense of being cautious and protecting your child. Be less afraid of taking a risk and letting in some positive thoughts.
Being credible is such an important part in parenting
By nature of being a parent you are invited to present such fine qualities as credibility and trust to your child. Never underestimate that such an opportunity is also all about developing yourself as a fully rounded, emotionally intelligent person. Like it or not parenting forces us to grow up!
Teach our children to be courteous
There is a silent, steady power present in being courteous. You are stronger by nature of your courteous style. By treating someone with dignity no matter how different your thoughts are, there is little with which to argue. After all, they see how you accept them as legitimate. You accept their right to have a voice, which gives you a voice.
The value you have to your child
We appreciate that we are important and that we hold great responsibility and balance of power in taking care of our child. I wonder how often we think about the value we give to our child.
Dr Seuss said “To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.”
Are you planning everything around your children?
Downtime with the family is a vital time to replenish the family spirit, refresh relationships and simply enjoy each other’s company.
Being a mum - something to think about
I have learnt some precious realities in watching mums raise a family, live with it and through it, suffer all the hardships, carry the weak moments and rise above the troubled spots. Now that’s being a mum!
What will your child remember about you?
What do our children really think about us? Are they aware of all our efforts? Do they remember the little details and the extra efforts we make over the years? What is their level of appreciation of us the parents?
The delight and significance of reading to your child.
There are significant advantages of reading to your children, in addition to the special family time.
Give your child occasions to make choices
Children need occasions to make choices and grow to understand that in making choices we live with the consequences. Decision making can be taught as much as learnt on the run. For our children, teaching them that making their own decisions comes with the joy of owning the outcome and also learning from the outcome.
Let’s teach our children to enjoy what they have and not seek out more
No easy task for parents who want to teach their children how to enjoy what they have rather than seeking out the next improved item. Read here for some examples of how to teach children to value what they have.
A laugh a day can keep the blues at bay.
In all my time as a teacher and Principal, I always felt that classrooms filled with humour were happier and more enlivened spaces in which children could work and learn. ‘ Always find a reason to laugh. It may not add years to your life but will surely add life to your years.’ Anon.
Managing children’s behaviour.
The household should have clear rules and be a place where the child can see you, the parent, living by the standards you set for them. Here are some tips to help manage children’s behaviour at home.
Choose your battles
Here are a few thoughts on why choosing your battles is important in maintaining a strong and happy relationship with your child: