Our children are our most valued gifts. We need to seize every opportunity to demonstrate our love and nurture them in their growth. We are teaching our children to be citizens in our society. Someday they will be employees, neighbors, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers. It is our responsibility to provide them with the tools they will need to be successful.

As parents, we should:

Provide An Emotionally Secure Environment
Talk to your child. Start early! Make him feel safe and comfortable expressing his thoughts and feelings. Be kind and reliable. Don't make fun of what he says. Don't be distracted…be a good listener.

Maintain Physical Security
Give her the basics…food, shelter, and clothing. Make sure your home is safe. Reinforce positive habits…support good nutrition, wear seatbelts, use carseats and bicycle helmets. Teach her personal hygiene…brushing teeth, bathing. Be consistent in family routines…bedtimes, meals.

Help Him Learn To Trust And Respect Himself And Others
Encourage his independence and believe in him. Tell him he can do it when he's trying something new. Acknowledge his feelings, friends, and opinions. Encourage him to respect your feelings and others, such as friends and grandparents. Give him some privacy and teach him how to use it best.

Provide Loving Discipline
Make rules age appropriate and consistent with his development. Always be consistent and define limits and expectations. She needs to know what to expect before she crosses the line. Consequences need to be reasonable. The punishment needs to fit the crime doesn't work. Our children are not criminals; they need instruction with meaningful consequences.

Give Time
Parenting takes a lot of time and lots more time. Be an active participant in his life. Attend activities, be on time and be attentive. This means school programs and sporting events are important to him. He doesn't want to be the kid whose parent(s) arrive after he has done his opening line or scored the first goal. Turn your cell phone off, at the very least to vibrate. Include him in your activities. Be patient…he's learning. Reveal yourself to him. Does he know who you are and where you stand on things?

Provide Affection, Encouragement And Support
Express yourself. Give her hugs and say I love you freely. Remember she's learning to be a wife and mother. If she's hurt physically or emotionally, show her how much you care by comforting her. Get excited when she's excited. Teach her new skills and acknowledge her improvement. Encourage her to pursue her own interests, allow her to disagree with you and make mistakes. Life lessons have to be meaningful.

Take Care Of Yourself
Practice healthy lifestyles yourself. Allow some personal time for you. Nurture your friendships. Be willing to accept love and affection from those around you. Remember the little ones are watching you for the right cues.


Written by Darinda Reis, RN.