Five Things Every Parent Should Do for Their Young Children
Babies are wonderful bundles of joy. They are easy to love. Nature has cunningly designed them to be irresistible. This helps new parents cope with the hardships of getting up at night and caring for their infant’s immediate needs, which tend to be food, drink, exhalation of wind and clean diapers. So far so good. It is the next part that is more difficult and which many parents flunk. As well as fulfilling their physical needs you have to cope with other important demands for growing children. Here are some key rules for those years from toddler to early school. As a parent you should definitely:
1. Spend time with your child.
The one thing you should never deny your child is your time. You should play with him or her. Talk and listen. Children need attention, communication and stimulation. Don’t lock them in the play pen or dump them in front of TV. Treat them with respect and with a great sense of playfulness.
2. Read to your child.
Just playing, eating, chatting or walking together is good but it is not enough. From an early age you should sit and read with your child. Reading helps develop language, understanding, verbal intelligence and a love of books. Picture books, nursery rhymes, fairy stories and all the old favorites are great. As your children get older listen to them read and discuss the stories and what they mean.
3. Set rules and say ‘No.’
Many parents indulge their kids, smother them with love and deny them nothing. But this is not doing you or the child any favors. Children have to learn the difference between right and wrong; and between safe and dangerous. You have to firmly correct them when they do bad things. You have to set rules and restrictions, explain them and make sure the child understands. Children get this quickly and they respect boundaries provided they are applied fairly and consistently.
4. Set a good example.
Children learn from those around them and especially their parents. If you swear, shout at your partner, kick the dog, leave a mess and don’t tidy up then why shouldn’t they? Teach them good manners and behavior through your actions as much as your words.
5. Encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Many of today’s teenagers who are obese couch-potatoes started with bad habits at an early age. Give your toddler fruit, vegetables and sugar-free drinks and he or she will grow up liking them. Encourage your children to walk, cycle and play and they will love exercise.
Children are a blessing and a privilege. Parenthood can and should be a source of happiness and wonderful fun. But it is also a duty; one of the most serious that you will ever undertake. Do it well and the benefits will last a lifetime.
WRITER'S BIOGRAPHY
Paul Sloane
Paul Sloane is an author and speaker on leadership, innovation and lateral thinking. His most recent book is The Innovative Leader. He helps organizations improve innovation, creativity and leadership. He is the founder of Destination Innovation. He has written 15 books of lateral thinking puzzles and hosts the lateral puzzles forum.Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/PaulSloane.
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Comments
Bob Bessette says on September 15th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Coming from a parent of an 18 year old and a 14 year old, in later years you may regret not spending more time with your children. I am the breadwinner and my wife has been with my children their whole lives after quitting her job when my eldest was a few months old. So, needless to say, I didn’t have the time to spend with them that my wife did. I still think I could’ve spent more time and do have some misgivings about that. My wife and I thought it was especially important for at least one of us to always be there for our kids. This is why she quit her job early on. It was tough on us financially (and still is at times) but the results have been excellent as far as my kids are concerned.
Best,
Bob
Paul Norwine says on September 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Hi Paul (what a great name, btw) -
I don’t have kids yet but my fiance and I will be starting a family of our own in a few years. We both come from loving and supportive families even though our parents admittedly didn’t know what they were doing while raising us :)
We want to provide the same atmosphere for our children and though some of the bullet points above are already on our radars, you also pointed out some others that we will be sure to focus on as well. Great post!
Paul
Belinda Munoz says on September 15th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Thanks, Paul. Great list! For me, #3 has been the hardest as the impulse to please my 2 1/2 yr-old son is strong. But I’m learning as I go along (hey, I hear that how parenting works?!). It’s important for new parents to know that a child will constantly test the boundaries; it’s our job to set them.
Now if only there was a way to show this to the grandparents…
Mr Sixties says on September 16th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Paul – great list! For me in this day of texting, tweeting, and im’ing on Facebook, #2 is super important for a child. Instilling a love of reading and the written word will serve them well in their future intellectual development.
Ashoka says on September 18th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Give your kids proper healthcare, including vaccinations. Before anyone freaks out, the reality is the risks of being vaccinated are vastly overblown, and the benefits are life-long. Kids don’t have the ability to make their own health choices, and are totally at the mercy of adults.
chat odaları says on September 19th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Paul – great list! For me in this day of texting, tweeting, and im’ing on Facebook, #2 is super important for a child. Instilling a love of reading and the written word will serve them well in their future intellectual development.
istanbul chat odaları says on September 22nd, 2009 at 5:10 am
Now if only there was a way to show this to the grandparents
Kaizer says on October 5th, 2009 at 5:21 am
This is a great list Paul. As a father of a 4 year old, i think spending time with my son is paramount to me. I have slipped up on the rules and say NO thing and am (already) paying for it.
But things are falling into place, see.
I might also add that one should keep aside a regular savings account for the kid and inculcate the habit of saving into them.
Again, a good list…
Kaizer.
Janet says on October 15th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I think this is a great list and I agree with each and every point you made. I am an elementary teacher and I see too many children whose parents seem to have forgotten #3 on your list. Children feel more secure and function with greater confidence when they understand the boundaries.