We all wish that our children should not smoke or drink, should not speak lies, should not steal, should not have a violent nature, etc... but are we setting a good example ourselves?
Just yesterday, I was at a friend's place and his daughter came running up to us with her school calendar and asked him to put a remark for being absent for school. They had been to a close relative's wedding and my friend merely wrote "Stomach Pain" and signed the calendar. Aren't you indirectly teaching the child that it is OK to lie? I have seen so many parents protecting the guilt of their children by lying, I wonder what will happen to them when these children start lying to their parents themselves!
Smoking is a very bad habit and you must refrain from smoking, at least in front of children. When you smoke, your child watches your actions with great concentration and then even tries to imitate you. If you cannot leave the habit, go to the terrace / verandah and smoke. If you don't have one, go for a walk and take your nicotine break there. If you have a spare room in your house, go there and remember to close / lock your door. So what if your child knows that you smoke? Don't light up in front of him. If you are smoking and your child comes to you, extinguish your cigarette, even you have just started (even if you're not a millionaire). Remember, passive smoking is just as dangerous to your child's health. Don't keep cigarettes lying around the house and always keep track of the number of cigarettes you have (even if you're a millionaire). You don't want your missing cigarettes found in your child's schoolbag, do you? Remember one thing in your life - never ever ask your child to buy cigarettes for you, if you run out of them. If you do, be rest assured that your child will smoke, some day. You are exposing him to all the varieties of cigarettes, the touch, feel and smell of it, the cigarette vendor's marketing skills and the other smokers. If your children ask you about your smoking habit, don't lie. Tell them you do smoke and have accidently caught the habit. Don't give a reason for smoking (like you are stressed, etc) as some day you will get a similar reason from him. Also tell him that you are trying to quit and genuinely give it a try. Get an anti-smoking screensaver and install it on your PC. You can get them free if you search on google.com. Wouldn't your children be happier if you lived a little longer?
The same goes for drinking. One important thing to remember - never get drunk in front of your children. If you are not in your senses, you could speak or do something that you shouldn't, in front of your children. You can even cause physical or mental harm. If you MUST get drunk, go to a bar or confine yourself to a locked room. If your spouse is around, the better.
Don't use foul language in front of children. As I mentioned earlier, children try to imitate you. If you come across a reckless driver and let off steam be careful with your words. Your child is listening. Never ever use foul language with your spouse and don't abuse him / her, at least not in front of your children. I know, we all have our problems and married life (or any other life) isn't a bed of roses. But try to confine your fights to your bedroom and control the decibel level unless you have a totally soundproof room. I have heard 3 year old children speaking the filthiest language, even if they probably don't know what they're speaking!
Never ever let go a child who stole something. Now, I'm not saying that if you found out that your child is stealing, jump on him or give him a tight slap. Don't even humiliate him with shame. But sternly explain him that this is not right and make it crystal clear that it is not permitted. If he has stolen from a store, go back with him and make him return the item. If it is from school, make him return it to the teacher to avoid him from public shame. Explain to the teacher that you will be keeping an eye on him from repetition of the act. Follow your promise religiously and keep a check on his possessions within his schoolbag, his cupboard, etc. Is there something he possesses that is not bought by you? If so, be firm in knowing from where he got it from and insist on returning it. Don't accept lies too easily, its as if you're condoning the theft. Also remember, don't keep money lying around the house even if you have money to burn. Make him understand the value of money. Maintain a limit on pocket money and encourage him to save. It is also time to think if the child needs more affection and attention at home and a watch over his company. If all attempts fail, approach a child psychiatrist.
Television, movies, games and comics also play a vital role in the psychology of the child. If he watches a lot of brutality, he may tend to act it out. Limit the time and type of programs he watches. Encourage him to watch productive programs suitable to his age. Although I don't watch television often, recently I have been watching some serials and was quite surprised that most of them were centered around scheming women with criminal minds. A very important thing you should do is be with your child when watching television. If there is a scene which you shouldn't want your child to see, distract him by asking him some question like "is your home work complete" and when he is looking at you, change the channel. If he insists to watch it, firmly tell him that it is not right for his age.
About The Author
Samir Jhaveri is the Head Marketing Director of google.com, a colossal estore that sells niche branded ebooks, softwares, website templates, scripts, recipes, etc, at phenomenal discounts. Most products also carry Resell Rights, so that you can resell the products and make profit. He also has a web hosting business with a record of 99.99 % Uptime across all servers and an excellent Customer friendly Support team.
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More
There are a LOT of alternative treatments for sale out... Read More
Impulsivity is one of the hallmarks of people with Attention... Read More
Suppose that you rearrange your life to homeschool your child... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain... Read More
Successful families don't just happen. They take time, talent and... Read More
Life is comprised of pieces of time sprinkled with pivotal... Read More
Not too long ago my teenage daughter approached me with... Read More
I still remember the scene vividly. I was getting out... Read More
How excited do kids get with the start of school... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
You can learn a lot from children.The best part of... Read More
"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think... Read More
"Get down from the table top right now! What are... Read More
The debate in many towns continues throughout this country about... Read More
Most of us really don't like it when someone is... Read More
I was changing Ford's diaper the other day when he... Read More
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More
Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
When you talk about multiply your child's intelligence, you can't... Read More
Encouragement comes when you focus on your child's assets and... Read More
``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend... Read More
Once the newness has worn off a little, you will... Read More
on demand house cleaning Lake Forest ..We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider... Read More
On one of her quarterly visits to see her grandson,... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
It was a day that I will forever be etched... Read More
"The best blush to use is laughter: It put roses... Read More
Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this... Read More
Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More
Creating and making special memories with your child is very... Read More
The advances in science over the past century have been... Read More
One of the most difficult parts of being a father... Read More
In today's mental health system there is a pattern of... Read More
When I was pregnant, we knew that we had some... Read More
It happens every year. Just when you are settled in... Read More
Rule #1 Make Every Bite Count!Everything your child eats should... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
I have a bit of a different response than most... Read More
The cruel callous remarks made by our offspring can sometimes... Read More
This time, I would like to talk about a subject... Read More
Choosing to leave your child with a caregiver is one... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More
Parenting |