As your child, I need your guidance and help to become a good person. I want you to respect me and set a good example for me. Here are a few tips for you on how you should bring me up:

 

Don't fulfil my every wish. Don't give me everything I ask for, because sometimes I'm just testing how far I can go.

Don't shout at me. I respect you more when you don't shout. And if you shout, I'll learn from you and I don't want that.

Don't always give me orders. I'm happy to do what you want if you ask me nicely from time to time.

Keep your word, good or bad. If you promise me a reward, give it to me. On the other hand, you must also punish me if I deserve it.

Don't compare me with others. If you show me as a good example, another child will feel bad and like me less. If I am used as a bad example, I am the one who feels bad.

Don't change your mind so often about what I should and shouldn't do. Make up your mind and stick to it.

Give me the chance to find my own limits. If you always do everything for me, I'll never learn anything.

Don't tell lies and don't ask me to lie for you either. It makes me feel bad and I lose faith in what you say.

Don't force me to explain why I behaved badly. Sometimes I don't know myself.

Admit your mistakes. This increases my respect for you and I also learn to admit my mistakes.

Treat me just as nicely as your friends. Even though we are family members, we can be cordial and friendly with each other.

Do not ask me to do something that you yourselves do not exemplify. I learn from your words and your behaviour. So if you don't do something yourself, you can't expect me to do it.

Don't tell me that you don't have time when I want to tell you about my problems. My problems seem small to you, but they are hugely important to me and I need your help and understanding.

Tell me that you love me. Even if you don't feel the need to say it, I love to hear it and so I learn to say it to you.