When you become parents, and you see your toddler transforming into a teen, you’d realize that it’s the little things that matter the most.
- BE THE ROLE MODEL
Believe it or not, you’re the very first human contact of your child. Right from the spoken language to the gestures, your kid will follow you more than anyone else. Be it an intended lesson or not, you are actually passing something on to your baby every day. Some would grow up imitating the phoning habits of their father; others would mother their toys because that’s what they see their own mother doing. Remember, the day you laugh at a person because he/she is slightly obese or slim or colored or whatever, your child would learn something about this new person too.
Beware of anything inappropriate you may do intentionally or unintentionally. You’re being copied and admired.
- GIVE TIME, NOT GADGETS
This is a difficult one for us millennials because time is what we don’t have, and gadgets are what we are dependent on. This results in kids becoming more and more dependent on technology for recreation and otherwise. Develop a habit of sharing passions. Do things together during whatever time you find. And when you don’t have time, make sure your kids into something more constructive than Snapchat! Create things together and let them complete it when you’re not around – it could be song, a painting, dance choreography, a Lego construction, anything that keeps the interest of your little one going.
- READ STORIES TO THEM
It might be easier said than done but if done there is nothing more beautiful than this. Get your kids into the habit of listening to stories. Narrate them popular stories or just invent one yourself. Sometimes, you may even ask them to fabricate one. This will help them learn invent and innovate too. This practice would bring you closer to your kids and for your kids your stories would mean much more than the futile television drama.
- LET THEM MAKE MISTAKES
Making mistakes is a part of attempting something. Yes, you feel responsible for their future but do not stress yourself out and do not be mad at them if the result of your collective hard work is not what was expected. Mistakes can be corrected – and that is what we need to teach our children. In life we’ll either succeed or fail, and in both the cases, it’s important to find the balance.
- EAT TOGETHER
Now-a-days, our schedules are such that we have no time to cook and eat tranquilly. One of the most important aspect of family life is that we should, somehow find time to sit together and eat. It’s that time of the day when the entire family can connect with each other.
- LISTEN WITH PATIENCE AND PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS
Some of us listen to our kids because we’re polite but then we jump from one topic to another as if importance lies in gathering as much information as we can. Importance also lies in getting all the details, and remembering them. Remembering names, dates, and important events is a significant aspect of any conversation to make the other person feel that you care and that you are interested.
- MAKE PHYSICAL CONTACT
It’s important for parents to make physical contact with their kids – hug, pat, caress, hold. Physical contact is very important and it tends to disappear as kids hit the preteen, but make sure it continues. Kids go through a lot of lows and highs and sometimes, reassuring hugs make all the difference.
- EXPRESS OPENLY
Along with other things, last but not the least, it is important that you be the kind of parents that express – gratitude, pride, disappointment, etc. Your kids should know when they make you proud, it’ll keep them going.
