Our children are our most important legacy to the world. However, our love is our most important legacy to our children. Here are seven ways to show love that will help children build sturdy foundations for the future.
1. Spend Time with Your Children.
Time is the most loving gift we can give to our children. It allows for the mutual exchange of ideas, emotions, actions, and words that help our children develop and learn to communicate.
Enjoy a toddler's tea parties as well as a teen's ball games. Help your children build things and create art. Begin new family traditions that you can enjoy together each year. Ample time spent in mutually enjoyable activities will create memories you will always treasure.
2. Be the Primary Role Model for Your Children.
Children need examples to follow. Teach practical values to your children by modeling those values. Admit when you have made a mistake and apologize. Model being committed to the ideals you embrace. Demonstrate the advantage of integrity over peer pressure.
We teach and influence children more through actions than words. We are our children's first heroes; the ideals that we live today are the ideals that will influence our children throughout life.
3. Listen to Your Children.
A child's message is one of his or her most essential gifts. We build self-esteem in children when we show interest in what they have to say. Children need to communicate their pride of accomplishment as well as their needs.
Get down at eye level with very young children and listen with your eyes, ears, and heart. Listen most of all to the feelings conveyed through a child's eyes and expressions. If you listen to your children deeply, they will grow up listening deeply to you.
4. Provide Your Children with Loving Discipline.
Children need guidelines and safe boundaries without being constrained unnecessarily. They need to learn the value of being accountable for their choices and actions.
Let your children know that you disapprove of hurtful actions but will always love them as sons and daughters. Loving discipline enables them to recognize the best in other people. It allows children the freedom to explore the world safely and reach their highest potential.
5. Give Your Children Encouragement.
Encouraging words are powerful emotional deposits of confidence and self-esteem. Verbally acknowledge your children's special talents and accomplishments. Catch your children doing something great, and tell them what a great job they have done.
Children need to know that we recognize and support their hopes and dreams for the future. Encouraging children to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually provides the foundation for living a balanced life.
6. Share Your Experiences with Your Children.
We each have valuable stories to tell, unique maps of our journey through life. These stories tell how our reactions to events created the life we are living now. Sharing the benefit of your experiences - the roadblocks and rewards - is a very loving way to guide your children.
Your children may face many of the situations you faced. Your experiences can help them make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary mistakes. Among the most worthwhile possessions that we can someday leave for our children are journals filled with the stories that shaped our lives.
7. Love and Support Your Children Unconditionally.
Love is an unconditional gift from the heart; it is not a reward for good behavior. Let your children know that you will love and support them in any situation. This message creates a sturdy bond of trust. Your children will grow to feel safe in coming to you with any problem they face.
Children need the freedom to make decisions, try new things, and learn that life requires personal responsibility and persistence. They need the freedom to fail and learn from mistakes without being judged. Unconditional love helps them to acquire the decisiveness and resiliency required to become successful.
If you could sum up all of our children's needs, hopes, and expectations in one word, that word would be love. We share love when we play a central role in our children's world of learning and discovery. Our legacy of love will have a guiding influence upon our children and grandchildren for many generations.
© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com
maid service near Lake Forest ..You can learn a lot from children.The best part of... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
Is your baby approaching his or her first birthday and... Read More
Children are moral and make moral determinations... at least until... Read More
Does your child pout, blame and brood? Does he gripe,... Read More
Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
How often do you think of family life as an... Read More
The school holidays are a great time for the kids,... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
Fall marks the beginning of many new things both for... Read More
Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More
When your child shows signs of potty training readiness, it's... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
My thirteen-year-old daughter recently called me up to say she... Read More
Although it might seem pretty corny to a lot of... Read More
Q. How do we decide what our teens should be... Read More
Search for Assurance: The Power of BelongingThe job hunt is... Read More
Do you want to create a deeper, more loving relationship... Read More
What would it be like to have a clone? What... Read More
Today the little red school house is not what it... Read More
Bath time can be fun or it can be a... Read More
Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health. Exercising... Read More
top rated cleaning service Des Plaines ..In the last 20 years we've all been introduced to... Read More
It was at that time when our marriage was falling... Read More
Every year over one million parents have to talk to... Read More
Did you know that inconsistency on matters of discipline gives... Read More
1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a... Read More
Q. With the school year just beginning, what can we... Read More
All responsible parents would want to support their children, find... Read More
Do you feel like someone has abducted your sweet, innocent... Read More
What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More
'I felt great until I walked into the classroom -... Read More
The law of -ing.The law of -ing refers to a... Read More
Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More
Many companies advertise their products as being educational. How much... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
Once upon a time there was a beautiful bird whose... Read More
It can be difficult on all family members to have... Read More
Puberty can be a difficult time for children. Not quite... Read More
Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and... Read More
Parents are always looking for ways to open up the... Read More
One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More
When I was pregnant, we knew that we had some... Read More
Are you a parent concerned about passing values on to... Read More
1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your... Read More
To have reasonable expectations of our children is an important... Read More
When you hear the phrase, 'guerrilla parenting techniques', what images... Read More
Parenting |