Parenting is challenging. While you may not be able to control how your children turn out, there are plenty of ways that you can help them get on the right track. You might not realize it, but your kids are watching everything that you do and will take after you in a big way. It’s important for parents to set a good example for their children by being kind, loving, and responsible adults themselves.
I’m sharing the five most dramatic actions we have found to pack the biggest positive punch in our home.
1. Role models are kind and respectful towards others, show this
Show them how it’s done; be a role model (;) )! Take the time every day to show kindness towards others by making eye contact, smiling at strangers on the street, or holding open doors for people who need assistance. This will build in an understanding of what is expected from family members as they grow up – and when there are limits put in place too, such as not interrupting other peoples’ conversations without permission; this builds self-control which leads seamlessly onto our next point…
2. Teach about the importance of being responsible for their actions
Some people think you can teach children responsibility by telling stories or enforcing consequences. Parents cannot force children to behave like grownups. The only way a child will be well-adjusted is if the parents involve the child with more responsibilities earlier on. These steps will help a child build healthy habits without needing reminders and feel confident enough to make thoughtful decisions. Teaching your kids about what matters most when it comes down to self-reliance means teaching values such as punctuality, honesty, diligence through examples rather than lecturing – these things come naturally with maturity.
3. Use positive reinforcement as a role model
Positive reinforcement is a type of reward that reinforces the actions and behaviors you want to see more often. This includes verbal praise, such as saying “good job.” It can also include things like non-verbal encouragements, such as gestures with your hands or smiles on your face. The great thing about positive reinforcement is it doesn’t take much time out of our day for us to do! All we have to do when someone does something right is give them some encouragement in return – I’m sure they’ll appreciate it too 🙂
4. Encourage responsibility
It’s important for parents to teach their children self-responsibility by encouraging them in everyday tasks. Teaching your child responsibility will give him a sense of accomplishment, and it can help avoid future problems with negligence or easy excuses. Start teaching these early skills today through simple household chores like practicing putting away one dish after finishing the chore, taking out the trash once weekly, being responsible for homework assignments each night before going to bed so that he has less stress during school time. You’ll be surprised how quickly this becomes routine and expanding into other areas while out of the home. Little role models will be popping up all over the place!
5. Be patient with your kids
Yes, this means you don’t get frustrated if they’re still learning how to tie their shoes after 5 years! It takes time and practice! How you react to their mistakes will help them learn better and faster. This has been the toughest task to conquer on my journey to becoming a better role model for my own kids.
In the end
One of the most important things you can do to help your kids grow up into kind, responsible adults is teach them how to be respectful and compassionate. Start by teaching them about what it means to take responsibility for their actions – even if they’re not perfect. Find ways to use positive reinforcement when they make a good decision or behave well. Encourage responsibility so that in the future, as an adult, your children will know how to care for themselves because of all the experience you gave them while they were young.
How are you working on being a better role model? What have been some lessons from parenting that stick out as important for raising great kids?
