Parenting is one of the most important tasks we perform in this life. Most parents have no training or support to do it well. Guidance helps in this often frustrating and yet rewarding experience. Build a solid self-esteem and a capacity to withstand peer pressure for your children. It can lead to lifetime of rewards.
For children, routine is important. They need a solid structure to best flourish and learn. Bedtimes, daily chores, unstructured play time, and nighttime rituals all help contribute to a sense of security, and free the child to focus their energy on schoolwork and play. Unstructured time to play is critical to a developing child’s mental health and emotional resiliency. Guard your child’s development from over scheduling!
Here are four ways to raise a happier, healthier child:
- Schedule a consistent routine for bedtime. A child needs about 10 hours of sleep nightly.
- Have home responsibilities for your child. Around age 10-12, they should begin doing their own laundry and contributing to household chores. This develops independence and confidence.
- Present a calm, businesslike attitude when dealing with discipline. Losing your cool gives the child a power that rightly belongs to the adult.
- Focus on your child’s positive traits, especially when it is tough to do so.