There are many positive rewards that come from being a parent. You love your kids and want the best for them but sometimes your job isn’t easy and your patience is tested.
As a parent, there is a lot that is in your control and ways to influence your child. Be mindful of what you are teaching them and what you are making a priority in the household. Here you can review eight tips that will help your young child thrive long-term.
Be A Good Role Model
Your child is always watching and observing you. They likely will do all that’s in your power to want to be like you including what you say and do. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to be a good role model for them. Pay attention to your words and behaviors and commit to setting a good example that you can be proud of. If you do make mistakes or slip up then use these instances as learning opportunities to show and tell your kids what not to do. Demonstrate what you value the most such as showing love and kindness and having a strong work ethic.
Make Learning Fun & Interactive
You want your kids to look forward to going to school and to perform well. You can ensure this holds true by making learning fun and interactive at home. Review 54 fun kindergarten activities for learning and sprinkle them in throughout the year. There will likely be some that go over well and that you both truly enjoy and others that maybe you won’t repeat. However, giving them all a try will keep your days interesting and give you a chance to experiment with something new. It’s also important to make time for reading at home and to explore books together. It’s a chance for your child to develop their reading and vocabulary skills and use their imagination.
Encourage Living A Healthy Lifestyle
Another tip to help your young child thrive is to encourage living a healthy lifestyle. These are habits that they should learn at a young age so they grow up to be successful adults. You want to make sure they know how to take good care of themselves in the future when they are no longer living at home. There are many ways to do so such as setting a bedtime schedule to get good sleep and brushing teeth, cooking nutritious meals together, and getting plenty of exercise and physical activity. It also includes limiting screen time and finding other ways to relax and reduce stress that are healthy and don’t involve devices.
Assign Age-Appropriate Chores & Responsibilities
It’s okay to teach your young child responsibility when they are little. You want to avoid doing everything for them and instead try to give them some independence. You can do so by assigning them age-appropriate chores around the house. For example, they may be able to feed the dog or clean up their room. Have family meetings to go over everyone’s task list and answer any questions. You can always show them how to do it once and then the next time allow them the opportunity to complete the chore on their own. You’ll likely come to find that they like having to be in charge of something and contribute to keeping the house in order.
Establish Rules, Expectations & Set Boundaries
You want to keep your child safe and protected at any age, especially when they are young. Therefore, it’s important to establish rules and expectations for how you want them to behave. It’s in your best interest to have consequences in place should they not listen to you or try to test your patience. They’re going to have rules and expectations in the real world so you’ll be doing them a favor if you have them in the household. You should also work on setting boundaries so that they understand what will be and what won’t be tolerated. Not only set limits but then be consistent with your approach to discipline.
Make Time for Each Other
Your kids want your time and attention at the end of the day. Help your young child thrive by spending quality time with one another. There are many activities and ways to do so that will be fun and allow you to grow a stronger bond. Mix it up so that you each get to choose the activity and are doing something new each time. These moments are a chance to create long-lasting memories that you can look back on forever. During this time you can relax and have a good time but know that it’s also an opportunity to have some productive and rewarding conversations. If you’re someone who works a lot then make sure you are good about having a work-life balance and not always staying late at the office. When you are with your kids, eliminate distractions and be present in the moment.
Teach Social Skills
You can help your young child thrive by teaching them social skills. Even if they are shy, it’s important that they get comfortable interacting with others. The more they do it the more likely it is that they will come out of their shell. Consider setting up playdates with friends outside of school so that they have a chance to socialize in a more relaxed and less formal environment. Play dates are also a chance for you to meet some other parents and build your support group. These gatherings will teach them understanding and empathy which are very important to have.
Take Good Care of Yourself
You want to be the best parent possible day in and day out. If you are tired and drained then it’s likely going to show in your emotions and parenting style. You’ll be a much better caretaker and happier person when you practice self-care and put your needs first. Commit to taking good care of yourself so that you have plenty of natural energy and can be and stay well. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help or take breaks when you need them. Proactively reduce stress in healthy ways such as working out, journaling, or spending time in nature.