Raising children isn’t easy, and in the present environment of a pandemic, it feels like it’s just getting slightly harder. But right now, the world needs us at one’s best. If we don’t raise our children to be the absolute best of themselves, the negativity, the anxiety, the frustration of this generation will reach that point that hinders creativity and a reduced desire to face challenges.
1- Begin With the End in Mind
Every parent wants their kids to say that their parents were always fully engaged when they were with them. This gives them the feeling that there was lots of positive energy, and they were the most important thing in the world at that moment. To enforce this state of mind you need a series of rituals that help foster this feeling. Always pay attention to your energy levels when you are with the kids. Our lives are a myriad of complex energy drains, so you have to be responsible for ensuring that when you are with the kids, you are joyful and upbeat. When you’re mindful of your mood around your kids, you can mold and foster the habits needed to help you be the best version of yourself.
2- Play Games with your kids
Even though there’s a lot of bad press in the media about how kids are addicted to games and screen time, you can turn this into a positive experience. By immersing yourself in your kid’s game time, you get to share this time doing something they love. Games are timeless and help create a bond so it is ideal to find the time, and just play. This is an important step towards proper positive parenting.
3- Try avoiding saying “No” all the time
This might look like a small thing, but when you say “no” it tends to feel like a win-lose situation, even if you’re attempting to keep them safe or just displaying that you care about them. Instead, look for a win-win situation. There is indeed a balance between positive parenting and preparing children for the real world. But the hardest of all good parenting techniques is probably to avoid saying no. Here’s an example of this. Have you ever been on a call, and the kids want to start a conversation with you? When you have a child asking you questions and trying to get your attention, it’s easy to say ‘no’ right away. But simply saying ‘we can talk after my call’ is a win-win mind-set.
4- Empathy
Taking some time to communicate back to your little ones pays dividends for your relationships. This parenting style is very beneficial for their development. For example, when your child falls over and gets hurt, they are likely to instantly start crying, sniffing, and sobbing. As a parent, one might feel compelled to tell them to toughen up and grow up or stop complaining and be quiet. But this approach is not constructive. Empathy is an essential aspect of positive parenting and we should remember that kids understand more than they can articulate. As a parent, you should Let them know that it is ok to be hurt, but they’ll be alright when they stand up. This approach shows empathy and understanding of the child’s stage of development.
5- Gratitude
Teaching your children’s gratitude is the key to positive parenting. Gratitude doesn’t mean taking an hour out of your day to name a thousand things you’re thankful for; it just means remembering to show appreciation for everything you’ve got. And while you don’t remember everything you’ve got, you should start somewhere. Adopted a routine each night before dinner where you say one thing you are thankful for before eating as a family. This is not the time to criticize the things that children are grateful for; it is the time to teach your kids to be appreciative of the different things in their lives.
6- Adventure
Although many kids love to be active and have an adventure. We tend to forget that many of the things we can do or take for granted can be viewed as children’s excursions, such as meeting our friends, buying groceries, repairing devices, etc. It can be a change in their routine and fun to involve your children in these activities.
7- Not All Strangers Are Bad
This comes from a place of opinion, so feel free to disagree, but kids should have some interactions with strangers. The problem is that many kids think that they should not talk to strangers entirely and that they are all bad and dangerous people. But it is ideal to teach kids that they can interact with people outside their sphere of influence if they want to. Your kids should grow up watching you talk to strangers. From watching these interactions, they will learn how to make friends.
It is possible to raise happy kids even in these difficult times do not be so hard on yourself and compare yourself to the parent next do. Do your best in your way and your children will thank you for it.
