Five Tips to Help Children Succeed
Raising kids is a difficult, yet important and rewarding responsibility. As a parent, you can succeed and add a valuable member to our world. Or you can fail as a parent and create an unhappy problem for the world to deal with.
Even if you are not currently raising children, they are a big part of your future. Today's children are tomorrow's parents and leaders. You can improve our future by helping parents raise their kids with these five tips. The quotes are from The Way to Happiness by L. Ron Hubbard.
1. "What does have a workability is simply to try to be the child's friend. It is certainly true that a child needs friends."
As you were growing up, did you have adult friends? Who were your favorite relatives, sports coaches or teachers? If you smile at the memory, they probably treated you as a friend.
Because children learn more about life from adults like you than from other children (or television), they enjoy your company. They want to talk to you and follow your example. Let them!
2. "Try to find out what a child's problem really is and without crushing their own solutions, try to help solve them."
A child is a regular person in a small body. He or she is starting to figure out the world. If you encourage them to solve their own problems, you are building their confidence.
For example, asking the right questions is more valuable to children than giving the answers. "Why do you think he was mean to you? What do you want to do about it? Okay. What might be a better way to solve it?"
As another example, the child is trying to open a package or fix a toy. When the child has trouble or gets frustrated, do not bypass and take over the task. Instead, encourage him or her to work it out. You will help make a happier, prouder, more competent person.
3. "Observe them -- and this applies even to babies. Listen to what children tell you about their lives."
For example, you might observe a baby calms down when you play Mozart. You may discover your three-year-old gets excited when painting flowers. An eight-year-old may have a great idea for your career that you've never considered.
By observing children, you can be a better friend.
4. "Let them help -- if you don't, they become overwhelmed with a sense of obligation which they then must repress." (Repress = hold back.)
How do you feel if someone gives you money or favors, but refuses to let you return the favor in any way? Perhaps you feel worthless as you have nothing valuable to give to that person. If you are not allowed to help, you'll soon dislike or distrust the person and refuse all future gifts.
Examples: "If you fold the napkins, it would really help me." "I'll give you one dollar each week if you take care of all the garbage for the house." "I'll feel happy if you sing a song for me."
5. "A child factually does not do well without love. Most children have an abundance of it to return."
You can never give a child too much love. However, it's fun to try.
The more love you give to your child, the more he or she will give to you, and the world.
Learn about the Way to Happiness booklet at www.twth.org.
|
