Despite all the great things about kids, it takes a lot of energy to raise them the right way. We try to instill valuable life lessons in their small heads, but unfortunately, even our best efforts can sometimes go in vain.
Normally, all parents would like their children to be good people and succeed in life. But this means different things to different people. For some, it means having a good job or enough money. For others, it means having the right set of values.
According to L. Rob Werner, a living trust attorney in Los Angeles, many parents set up an account for their children after years of not communicating. There are some other examples where parent utilize money to wash their hands from bad parenting. The truth is, most kids just need love and guidance.
In this article, we will share 5 ways to raise amazing children according to science.
Create a Warm Home
Good parenting mostly comes down to being accepting and warm to your children. According to a study from 1938, researchers tracked 268 male Harvard students over a span of several years. The study provided various interesting insights. In the end, scientists concluded that quality relationships are the main thing ensuring a happy and productive life.
Future studies have provided similar results. Everything points to the fact that children who have rapport with parents grow into more successful and happy people. Among others, this warmth sets up a basis for proper mental development. So, kids who were given full support are less likely to suffer from socially-induced mental difficulties.
Allow Them to Make Mistakes
Many parents have a tight, hands-on parenting approach trying to monitor every aspect of a child’s life. Unfortunately, being overprotective or excessively controlling can stifle your kid’s development.
It is very important for children to learn from their mistakes. Of course, that doesn’t mean they should be allowed to put fingers in outlets or do something that would endanger their health. Instead, this refers to small, daily choices that may (or may not) have consequences.
Making decisions and learning from them is crucial for self-esteem and self-trust. Children who do not have autonomy will quickly become disinterested and lose the will to learn and explore.
Let Them Learn from Grandparents
Grandparents can be a great source of wisdom. They usually have more time and patience than us, which is why they are ideal mentors for young brains. Among others, their presence reduces stress within the household. Given they will take a load off, you will be much fresher when communicating with kids allowing you to be a better role model.
Among others, children can learn about old age and past times from their grandparents. Their support is invaluable, especially when a child goes through a rough patch or exhibits dissatisfaction. Kids who spend more time with their grandparents are usually even-keeled, less emotional, and behave better in social situations.
Focus on Emotional Regulation
Young ones that grow to become dissatisfied adults usually had problems managing their emotions when they were little. It is a skill that develops over time, with lots of parental guidance.
Contrary to what many of us think, it isn’t something that kids learn through control or bans. You can’t tell them to be less emotional or scold them when they are. Instead, they take hints from your behavior. If you’re emotionally undisciplined and unstable, your child will also adopt this habit.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show emotions whatsoever. Instead, you need to show a proper emotion according to a situation. Otherwise, your child will not know how to reach, or it will start reacting in the wrong way.
Impose the right discipline
Discipline is something that a lot of parents get wrong. You cannot teach it through rewards and punishments. Even if you try to motivate a child by providing an incentive, it can only last for so long. Eventually, they will stop doing something if they don’t like it. Similarly, you also cannot use punishment for negative behavior as it will only alienate them from you.
The best way to create discipline is by teaching a valuable lesson and focusing on the right values. A child shouldn’t eat vegetables and fruits because their parents said so, but because it will make them big and strong.
To develop discipline, a child needs an authoritative parent. That doesn’t mean you should be aggressive or violent in any way. Instead, you need to create firm boundaries and stick to them. At the same time, you should provide enough warmth so that a child doesn’t develop some other bad habits.
