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
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider... Read More
Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us,... Read More
One of the most prevalent problems of the computer age... Read More
I had just completed a session with 17-year old Julie... Read More
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids... Read More
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More
I hear from many parents that their child is stressed... Read More
I had my first two children on either side of... Read More
Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More
One of the basic issues we need to understand is... Read More
It can be difficult on all family members to have... Read More
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With... Read More
What is in a name?The answer is everything!Jo J. of... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
It is not the divorce but the conflict arising after... Read More
Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools,... Read More
Many parents would like to homeschool their children but are... Read More
Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a... Read More
I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More
The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's... Read More
Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More
Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More
A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games... Read More
Ritalin is a good medication with a bad reputation. Its... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us,... Read More
"Will my doubts and fears affect my child?" This father... Read More
A while ago I received this story from David in... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that is statistically... Read More
As a mother of two sets of fraternal boy/girl twins,... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
If You're Having Twins..is it double the headache, or double... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
The most common medications used in the treatment of Attention... Read More
In stepfamilies, big holiday expectations can lead to big disappointment--and... Read More
Child Car Seat Safety:We know you love your children, but... Read More
All of us, including your child, entered this world equipped... Read More
Dear Vijay,I worry about not being a good parent. My... Read More
Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More
Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen... Read More
The first year of a child's life is the most... Read More
Child Party Planning Guideline #1)Pick the ThemeYour child is going... Read More
In this form of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder... Read More
Q: Our son has been in honors classes all through... Read More
Here is a list of ways to convey the message... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky... Read More
Parenting |