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Parenting: How to Raise Happy and Productive Children
Parenting is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. There’s nothing like watching your kids grow up to be principled human beings living up to their potential. But even though this aspiration seems to be realistic and noble, getting them across the finish line isn’t always easy.
It’s a parent’s responsibility to raise kids who have strong morals and who will be productive members of society. Here are 16 things that parents can do to raise great kids.
Make your children feel loved. Show affection. Make them safe and secure.
Be a part of your children’s lives. Be available and involved. Spend quality time with your children, alone, and as a family. When kids are ready to talk, be ready to listen.
Build confidence. Be your children’s biggest cheerleader. Help them develop self-esteem and self-reliance through active guidance and nurturing.
Shape character. Teach your children the difference between right and wrong. Use real-life experiences to build and reinforce moral character, personal values, and self-sufficiency.
Promote basic values. Teach your children the difference between right and wrong and the importance of living by those principles.
Inspire good habits. Set high expectations. Encourage habits that promote good health, happiness, and success.
Support the importance of education. Encourage curiosity while stressing the importance of continuous improvement and lifelong learning.
Teach life skills. Teach your kids “how to fish” rather than making them dependent on your generosity.
Give unconditional love. Celebrate wins and offer a shoulder to cry on when times are tough.
Know how your children are being influenced. Know where your children are, and with whom, and how they’re using social media.
Encourage personal responsibility. With freedom comes responsibility. Teach your children that they are accountable for their words and actions.
Show some discipline. Be tough, but fair. Positive and negative reinforcement should be timely and consistent. Remember, if we don’t address poor behavior, we’re encouraging it through our inaction.
Be a great role model. Demonstrate the importance of living with honor and integrity by being true to your own rules and standards. As Robert Fulghum, the author, said, “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”
Celebrate traditions. Tradition offers an excellent context for meaningful pause and reflection. It provides an excellent forum to showcase role models and celebrate the things that really matter in life.
Be optimistic and hopeful. When kids grow up, they hear their parent’s voice in their subconscious. Teach them that they can achieve their dreams by working hard, doing what’s right, and putting their mind to it.
Clarify life’s journey. Teach your kids the difference between success and happiness and help them live a purposeful life.
Do You Have Any Parenting Tips?
Please leave a comment and tell us what you think or share it with someone who can benefit from the information.
Additional Reading:
Moral Character Matters
Live and Learn
Do You Lead By Example?
7 Reasons Why Traditions Are So Important
Living Life With a Purpose
Life Lessons: The Importance of Story Telling
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Frank,
As usual, you nailed it. They should give a copy to every parent as they leave the hospital.
Thanks so much Scott. I appreciate it.
If you’d like to use it as a handout, you can download it for free 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
I would add to guide them to trust themselves. My youngest often asks “what should I pick?” “what should I have?” and I tell him, it doesn’t matter what I think, it matters what YOU think. I want my kids to honor their truth. I want my kids to question when something isn’t right in their heart. I want them to know who they are, what they want, and the courage to go after whatever that is. I am seeing some courageous kids on Twitter and I love how courageous they are to speak their truth.
Hi Lori
Your advice is awesome. It’s so easy to provide the answer, but it’s more beneficial for kids to find their own solution.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank
I’m a 13 year old who’s living horribly because my mom tries to follow things like this too much, she’s too helicopter and tried to be a part of my life when I just want to be independent and I feel trapped. She expects me to do my share like an adult but doesn’t allow me to act like an adult. I also hate tradition with a passion, every time I do something my own way that’s way more better for me, she yells at me and tell me to do it her way because it’s “tradition”. And she has always been wanting to know everything I’m doing, I understand some kids may like the attention, but I prefer to process things alone, and work by myself, so it’s really annoying for me, and now she thinks I’m the failure child who’s going to end up working at McDonald simply because I don’t fit everything on this list. And every time I try to tell here to let me just be myself she just laughs and calls me a “basic teenager”. Sorry I didn’t need to comment this :/.
Hi Rin
It’s hard for me to respond to your comment without knowing your specific situation. That said, all parents want the best for their kids.
Your genetics are predetermined, but your personal values are instilled by your folks. If your parents don’t help to shape your moral character and teach you right from wrong, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. As I say, “Behind every good kid are parents who understand the importance of raising them that way.”
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Best,
Frank