Every child is different, every parent is different. There are no fixed rules for bringing up children and we as parents do not always react in the best possible way, as we are often under stress or simply annoyed. Nevertheless, there are some guidelines you can take to heart in order to raise your children to be respectful and honourable people.
Guidelines for optimal education:
Treat children with respect.
Don't put children down.
Treat all siblings equally.
Give clear and precise instructions, repeat several times if necessary. Children often do not do what they have been asked to do because they have not understood it.
Ask nicely, don't command. Children feel more self-confident when they have the feeling that they are doing something voluntarily. This builds their self-confidence.
Give them enough challenges so that they don't get bored, but don't overwhelm them. When shopping, for example, let them choose the fruit and put it in the basket, then they will forget their boredom.
Try to be positive about their behaviour. Tell them what you particularly like about them instead of telling them what bothers you about them.
Praise them when they do something well.
Stick to your own rules. If they can't have sweets before dinner, you shouldn't give them to them.
Give them healthy food as a special reward.
If you ask them not to do something, give them an alternative that they can do instead.
Smile a lot, especially when you ask them for something.
Find out why the children are behaving in certain ways. If they are old enough, talk to them about it. Sometimes they are naughty out of boredom or frustration.
Make yourself smart. Talk to other parents and find out how they react in certain situations.
Use an appropriate level of language difficulty for the age of the children, i.e. not too complicated but not baby talk either.
Involve the children in the lifestyle you want to live from the very beginning. If you like eating out, take them with you from an early age so that it becomes part of their normal life. That way you don't have to miss out on anything.
Make sure that the children and their parents get enough sleep. Everyone is happier and more balanced when they have a good night's sleep.
