My wife has worked as a nanny all her life. In fact, she practically raised her two younger brothers. She enjoys her work and enjoys watching kids learn and grow. Using her as a resource, I think I can make the declarative statement that parents are lacking these days. What is it that they are lacking exactly? Patience and understanding.
Whenever I'm in a grocery store -- or mall -- and I see a child misbehave, I'm always taken aback. Not because the child is crying or screaming, but because of how parents tend to react. More often than not, they tend to scold their children or take them outside. It is a slippery slope trying to find a balance between the needs of people in the store or movie theater and the needs of your child.
The root of the problem, in my opinion, is that parents are too restrictive. I'm not advocating playing in traffic or taking candy from strangers, but a little leeway should be in order for kids. Growing up, I experienced the school of command -- that is, my parents commanded respect and got it, even if they had to slap my hand or bottom to get it. Needless to say, I did not care for that school of parenting.
It is essential children respect their parents, that much is true. But the problem stems from how that respect is earned. That's right -- even parents must earn respect. Children need to feel safe and heard. That might sound trite, but how much respect could we muster for a boss that degraded us or slapped our hands every time we made a mistake?
A word of praise, a simple explanation, a moment of patience in the face of a tirade is all it takes. Even the right toy or television program can help. Try an interactive game that helps them better understand their letter or numbers. That shred of confidence goes a long way for a child and a confident child is more willing to listen.
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Help turn your child into a veritable baby Wordsworth with a smattering of kind words and some meaningful encouragement. There are numerous of effective and challenging games that can help them build their confidence and sense of self-worth.
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Article: Earning A Child's Respect Author: James Pynn Publication Date: 2009-10-30 Total Views: 229 Word Count: 376 Category:Home /
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