So good parents are good role models. They show them that they value education, by taking an interest in their children’s school work. Then their children will study well. They help them learn to make good choices, for example by encouraging them to do their homework before turning on the TV.
By CHRIS HART
Bringing up your children’s the most important thing you’ll ever
do. Forget trying to be rich or famous. It’s setting your children off
on the right path that really counts. But how do you do that?
Some
people believe that all you have to do is to love your children, and
then they’ll automatically grow up into happy human beings. Real parents
will pretty soon tell you that’s not nearly enough!
Because
children also need discipline. And sometimes you have to lean on them
pretty hard. Because children only ever want to do what’s fun. So you
have to be a spoilsport quite a lot.
Endlessly
being told about other parents who let their children do whatever they
want! Give kids an option and they’ll always be watching YouTube rather
than doing their maths homework. But watching videos won’t pay the bills
when they grow up.
And asking them gently probably won’t stop them fighting, or get them to tidy their room, or stop playing computer games.
So
you have to use your authority. Why? Because you know best. Children
generally don’t understand why you want them to do the right things. So
you have to insist.
INSTILL VALUES
Some
people think that all children are fundamentally good. But the reality
is that there’s aggression, cruelty and violence in everyone. That’s why
it’s so hard to teach children to behave well. And not break other
children’s toys or hit them.
Many
parents believe that you just need lots of after-school activities,
educational trips and extra tuition to guarantee their children’s
success. But that’s not true. It’s more important to teach children to
work hard, and to be resilient and persistent.
So
good parents are good role models. They show their children good
values: like trustworthiness, honesty and kindness. They show them how
husbands and wives love one another. They show them how successful
adults control their impulses, work hard, and believe in their own
abilities.
They show them that they
value education, by taking an interest in their children’s school work.
Then their children will study well. They help them learn to make good
choices, for example by encouraging them to do their homework before
turning on the TV.
Because when
people learn to make good choices as children, they’re better able to
make the really tough decisions that we all face later as adults.
Good
parents always do what they say they’re going to do. Because it’s their
consistency that teaches children to be responsible. Good parents are
always flexible but firm.
They have
clear expectations for their children’s behaviour and conduct - at an
early age - and they enforce them. They’re warm and affectionate, but
retain their authority and stay in control. Do all that and your family
will have a good life.
And so in
their turn will your children! Well adjusted, and socially skilled.
Resilient, achievement oriented, mature and responsible. And the next
generation’s most successful adults.