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Every parent’s dream is to raise children that are successful and happy. But there is too much parenting advice out there that makes it hard for parents to choose. Just Googling the sentence “How to raise successful and happy kids” comes up with millions of results. A successful school experience is not all about their report cards; preferably, your child will think freely, learn how to maintain information, develop an increasing sense of competence, and ask questions.
The following are some tips to help you raise a productive and happy kid.
Provide Your Child with the Support they Need
At home, your child should have a favorable setting that will enable them to discover their interest. Let your child feel confident about their capabilities, ambitions, and, more importantly, the way to pick themselves up whenever they fall. This will help them grow personally, and gradually discover phases of their identity, acknowledge that the term ‘failure’ is a stepping stone to success and that you will always be there when they need you.
Get Started on Educational Habits
According to various researches, teaching math and reading to your children can significantly affect their future achievements. It is only by reading to them that you can open up the worlds of imagination like never before. Reading and math skills are not only necessary life skills abut they are also a great way to improve the bond between you and your child, promote their literacy and language skills, and best enough, it becomes a period that both of you long for.
Assign Chores
There is enough research that shows how chores are beneficial to kids. Whether it is taking out the trash, walking your family dog, folding laundry, mowing the grass, or washing the dishes, you should assign your kids some chores. Giving your kids chores reminds them that to obtain the benefits of life, they must first do their parts. This also eliminates the hurdle that kids face whenever they are allocated chores for the first time. Kids that do their chores usually become better adults that can cooperate well with their co-workers and become more liberated in performing tasks.
Set Reasonable Expectations for your Child
Did you know that your expectation can predict the success of your child in school? Setting reasonable and achievable expectations for your child makes them focus even more on living up to the expectations by trying harder in school. Be wary of setting higher expectations on your kids since it only makes them feel inferior, especially when they fail to achieve them.
Ensure your Kid is Honest and Don’t Tolerate Disrespect from Them
You should make it clear that there are penalties for lying whenever your kid tries to lie to you. Children carry the habit of lying to schools whenever they feel they can get away with it. Keep in mind that not everyone can forgive the child as you might. On the other hand, kids can get angry with you. This is especially the case when you are dealing with teenagers. Make sure that they know disrespect is not allowed. Letting your child go away with disrespect gives them the notion that they can get away with it with anyone, anywhere. People that are disrespectful never achieve their goals and can even end up in treacherous situations.
Minimize their Screen Time
It is worth fighting with your kids over the time they are spending in front of the TVs. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, spending a lot of time in front of screens has been linked to low grades, a higher risk of developing diabetes, and not getting enough sleep. The AAP also recommends that the amount of screen time be limited to two hours each day.
It would be best to encourage your kids to create content instead of just being inert consumers. Help them learn the digital production of music and convert the screen time to productive work.
Don’t be Overprotective
Every parent’s natural instinct is to make sure that their child is doing fine and safe wherever they are. But sometimes, it is advisable to watch away even when they fall. Let them pick themselves up. Doing that helps the child learn that challenges are just another part of life, and they will have to cope with them.
The success of your child is not only linked to their intelligence. Spend more quality time with your family and teach the kids that failure is a part of life and that they should learn to pick themselves up whenever they fall. When the time comes for them to face the real world, your kids will be able to conquer the challenges and be constructive about it too.
Help them Discover their Hobbies and Talents
The greatest gift you can give your children is helping them tap into what they are passionate about. Do not limit them to only what you find familiar. Instead, pay close attention to the interests they express and allow them to explore. If they love skating, lookout for the best roller skates for kids that you can purchase.
It does not matter if it sticks. Provided they keep trying, they will eventually find a hobby to their liking. If your child has trouble discovering new talent, try out one yourself. They may get inspired and find a liking to it.
Your child’s dream and passion are as important as yours are. Do not be one of those parents that trample over your child’s dream just because you find it unrealistic. Allow them to follow their heart and encourage them while at it.
Teach your Children To build Meaningful Relationships
Strong relationships are very beneficial to a child’s emotional and psychological growth. Relationships help children to know themselves and understand others. A child grows to be enthusiastic and open once they experience help, understanding, and joy from the people around them.
Respond in the right way to the emotional; cues that your child exhibits, only then can they grow with a sense of security. Take a sincere interest in what they are doing and encourage them to express their feelings in the right way.
Create opportunities where they can develop relationships with other children of the same age. Allow them to create friends and connect in their own way.
Applaud their Efforts, Not Abilities
Praising the efforts of your kids and talking about their achievements can help increase the odds of them achieving success in life. Praising them for their dedication as opposed to their innate abilities gives them the impression that they can achieve anything they want as long as they put the work behind the goal.
Having a natural ability no longer becomes special for them and they will work hard and put more hours to achieve whatever goal they set. It also helps to grow their self-confidence in themselves and they are able to try out more one activity.
It’s never too Early to Introduce them to Books
Books are the windows to knowledge and wisdom. They open up the minds of anyone that reads them and show them a new world of imagination and possibilities. Reading is a necessary life skill for your child and can also help create a bond between you both when you read for them.
It helps them develop their language and literacy skills and promotes the development of their mind. At a young age, your child enjoys hearing your voice. By reading to them, you can help them grow to love books from a young age.
Teach them about Work Ethic and Achievement
If you want to get your child to behave in a certain way, model that behavior and they will follow suit. Teach then the importance of having a good work-life balance by only working from your workplace and not doing any work when it is time to spend with the family.
Give them chores to handle and show them the importance of balancing their time. Allow them to feel the consequences of not being productive early for it to become less painful as they grow up. If they fail to deliver a task, hold back their allowances, or prevent them from doing something they love.
Help your child to understand that having a work ethic as an element of their character will help them become more dependable in life and career.
Don’t Be too Hard or Too Soft
Distinguish between being an authoritative parent, being lenient, and try to find a balance when dealing with your child. It is important to discipline your children once they make a mistake. But you should not overdo it as it might lead to rebellion or cause them to live with fear and a lack of confidence.
At the same time, do not be too lenient as they become spoilt as they grow. Give them an equal amount of love and discipline for them to grow following the right path.
Do not Bend to Your Child’s Will
Sometimes you may appear to be the bad guy in the eyes of your child if you refuse to let them stuff that other parents may allow but don’t sit right with you. But it is a normal situation every parent faces. Do not get tired and give in to their will.
Instead, stick to every decision you make since you are doing it for the best interest of your child. At one point they will remember the importance of your decision and thank you for it.
Summing Up
Parenting is a noble cause filled with ups and downs. Its main challenge is helping your child to grow and become confident, productive, and successful. It becomes a challenge especially when you prepare your kids for college since that is the age where they transition into adulthood. However, by following the above methods, you can ensure that your child grows to become a productive and successful member of the community.
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