The Basic Components of Parenting
It’s been said before, and it will be said again: it’s not easy to be a parent. Almost nobody is qualified in any way to be a parent when they first become one. Only through trial and error do they become good parents and raise their children well, may I add more errors than trials for sure. In order to raise your child well, you have to consider many different things that all contribute towards development of you child.
First and foremost is discipline. This includes teaching your child what he or she is allowed to do, what is forbidden, and the difference between right and wrong. This is a huge responsibility and very scary when you start out. If you repress your child too much, he will grow up timid and afraid to try new things. If you let your child run free with no supervision, he will not learn the basics of rules, and will likely have trouble with authority later in life. A perfect balance is needed, and it is rarely obtained. The search to get to that equilibrium is what you seek as a parent.
You should also teach your child about health. This is something that parents rarely fail to do, as is apparent with the phrase “eat your vegetables”. Instead of forcing your child to eat healthy foods, you should explain what foods are bad, and what effects they have on the body. But do try your best not to be scary, please! Explain the benefits of being healthy. Obesity is a huge problem in the modern world, and you should help your child avoid falling into an unhealthy lifestyle. Be sensible with your language, you don’t want to awake possible self-esteem issues for your child that they didn’t have before.
Now that you have morals and health taken care of, you should think about what you will do to develop the mind of the child. Parents have always read to children at early ages, and for good reason. It is probably the best way to fill your child’s head with information. Unfortunately, reading has declined in recent years. You should make every effort to break this trend. Read to your child on a daily basis, preferably multiple times per day.
I can tell you that with my kids I only have one single problem when it comes to reading. They like it too much… Fortunately I have a very silly like personality and it comes naturally to me. It’s quite handy when you want to tell a story and make up voices and characters, they absolutely love it.
Parenting is never an easy thing, and to do it effectively you have to be aware of so many different factors. You can find support in the form of magazines, books, or groups and classes. Think about everything that goes towards the development of a healthy, intelligent, well-rounded human being. It may be intimidating – and with good reason. But all you can do is try your hardest to focus on every aspect of development and never ever forget to enjoy your child, tell him how much you love him every single day. I guarantee that is half of the hob taken care of.
Lot’s of love,
Sandra
