Acts of Kindness for Kids to Build Character

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on acts of kindness for kids.  First, demonstrating acts of kindness helps build character for kids.  Furthermore, engaging in kindness activities does the heart good as well as helps a neighbor, family member or friend feel good too.  

 

 

acts of kindness for kids

 

 

 

Acts of Kindness for Kids: 

 

  1. Participate in Food Drives
  2. Read to the Elderly at a Nursing Home
  3. Help at a Food Kitchen
  4. Become a Pen Pal with our Troops
  5. Donate Clothing and Toys to a Women’s Shelter or Children’s Home 
  6. Grow Sunflowers for the Birds
  7. Build a Bird Bath for Backyard Birds
  8. Make a Flower Bouquet for Your Neighbor
  9. Mow an Elderly Neighbor’s Grass 
  10. Send a Care Package to Our Troops
  11. Invite a Classmate to Sit With You at Lunch 
  12. Make a Bird Feeder for Backyard Friends
  13. Have a Free Car Wash in Your Neighborhood
  14. Bake Cookies for Our Soldiers
  15. Volunteer to Help at a Community Garden
  16. Volunteer to Help Pick up Trash in the Community
  17. Donate Old Books to a Used Book Store
  18. Offer to Pull Weeds From Your Neighbors Flower Beds
  19. Fix Lunch or Dinner for an Elderly Neighbor
  20. Call Your Grandparents Just to Say Hello and I love You.  

 

acts of kindness for kids

 

 

Also, acts of money don’t have to require tons of money.  Devoting time and a little energy goes a long way.  Most importantly, small tokens of kindness, love and care can brighten someone’s day and impact their life in a positive way.  So, remember being kind and showing kindness costs very little.

Furthermore, kids can participate in a food drive, grow a pot of flowers for a neighbor, wash a neighbor’s car, bake brownies and cookies for our soldiers.  Soldiers who are far away from home service our country would welcome a homemade goodie box.  Also, volunteering at a food kitchen can show children how blessed they are to have a warm, comfortable home with a bed and lots of food.

 

 

acts of kindness for kids

 

 

Next, pick an easy flower to grow if you child decides to grow flowers.  For example, Marigolds and Impatients are great flowers to grow in containers for the summer.  However, the Marigolds love sun and the Impatients love shade.  

Last, print my acts of kindness for kids list and have your children pick a few acts that they would like to perform.  

 

 

 

Teaching Children Kindness Through Gardening

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on unique ways on teaching children kindness. Teaching children kindness is a character trait that every parent will need to nurture in their children. Furthermore, there are many ways to instill and discuss kindness.  However, today we’re going to focus on teaching children kindness through gardening. 

So, gardening is a unique concept, but there are many lessons to be learned through gardening. It has additional benefits including exposing your child to nature, leaning self-sufficiency by growing your own food, and enjoying nature’s beauty by growing beautiful flowers.  Flowers are also beneficial to growing fruit, vegetables and flowers.      

 

 

teaching kids kindness

 

 

Teaching Children Kindness: 

 

Teaching Children Kindness Through Gardening Videos

 

Videos:  If You Plant a Seed
              Wanda’s Roses

 

Snacks:

Vegetable Dip and Veggies
Peanut Butter Celery

 

 

Kindness Coloring Pages and Activities

 

Worksheets: 

If You Plant a Seed
Wanda’s Roses
Vegetable Coloring Pages
Kindness Coloring Pages

 

 

 

teaching kids kindness

 

 

Children’s Kindness Activities: 

Bake Zucchinni bread for our troops
Make cards with flowers for a local nursing home
Visit a Community Garden
Make a flower pot gift for grandma or a neighbor
Grow a pot of carrots or strawberries 

 

First, lets start with the book If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson.  This book is an excellent way to teach young children about kindness and sharing.  Additionally, the book is appropriate for preschoolers to 3rd grade, and is read by Story Time With Michele Lepe. Set aside approximately 10 minutes to watch the video. 

Next, prepare a vegetable snack of carrots, cucumbers and dip or celery and peanut butter pieces for the kids.  Discuss the book with them to ensure they understand what took place.

 

 

teaching kids kindness

 

 

 

Teaching Children Kindness Through Gardening

 

Additionally, here’s a few questions that you can ask from the stories.  I’ve created a worksheet on the stories for the older kids to answer questions.  Interacting verbally with the younger kids will suffice: 

 

  • What vegetables did the rabbit and mouse plant? Tomatoes, carrots, and cabbage? 
  • Who showed up to enjoy the treats the rabbit and mouse planted?  Birds.
  • So, what happened when the rabbit and the mouse refused to share with the birds.  They fought and ruined all the vegetables. (Seeds of selfishness were planted).
  • When the rabbit and mouse shared their treats, what happened? Seeds of kindness were planted. The birds were thankful for the food.  So, they helped plant more vegetables and they had a bigger garden and harvest for everyone.
  • What was the sweetest fruit? The fruit of kindness.
  • Finally, the bigger garden was filled with what vegetables and flowers? (Garden of Kindness)?  Corn, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and sunflowers.  

 

Additionally, while you’re having your snacks discuss the fact that the vegetables they are eating were grown in a garden just like the tomatoes, carrots and cabbage, corn and sunflowers in the story. 

Have the kids complete the Fruit of Kindness Garden Assignment. What would they would plant in their Fruit of Kindness Garden.  

 

 

teaching kids kindness

 

 

 

 

Kindness Books for Children:

 

In addition to If you Plant a Seed,  Wanda’s Roses by Pat Brisson teaches kindness too. The story is read by Story Time with Ms. Loewen.  It is appropriate for ages 5 – 8. Here are a few questions to ask the kids after listening to the story:  

 

  • Where did Wanda find the rosebush?  In an empty lot
  • Why did Wanda think it was a rosebush?  The thorns. 
  • What did Wanda do to give the rosebush more sun and air?  She started to clean up the lot by removing the trash. 
  • How did all of the neighbors help Wanda with the lot? They all helped to clean it up.   
  • Sadly, the rosebush did not bloom. What did Wanda do when her bush did not bloom? She made roses from paper and invited the neighbors to have a tea party.
  • What did the neighbors bring to the tea party? Rosebushes. 
  • What did Ms. Jones bring to the party? Muffins
  • Ask the students to talk about a kind act they did for a friend, neighbor or family member or one that a friend, neighbor or family member did for them.    

 

So, teaching kindness should start early and done in a manner that kids can understand and relate.  The best way is to lead by example.  Download the Kindness Activities for kids.   

 

 

Instilling Character in Kids Tips

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on instilling character in kids.  Every parent wants to raise a kid with strong character. However, instilling character in kids can be an uphill task fraught with challenges and frustrations. If you have no idea on how to make your kids more honest, responsible, or kind, I have a few tips for you.  

 

 

instilling character in kids

 

 

Instilling Character in Kids Tips

 

Be a Role Model

 It is a well-known fact that kids learn more by what they see than by what they hear. This is why you must model the behavior you wish your child to acquire. If you want your child to be more generous, you must be generous yourself. Telling your kids to be generous then refusing to share something with others will send confusing messages to them. Additionally, they will most likely do what comes easiest to them, which is being selfish.

 Another advantage of practicing what you preach is that it gives you the authority to correct misbehavior. If your kids view you as a kind person, they will likely follow your instructions to be kind to others. They will also be more accepting of the punishment that flows from their unkindness.

 

Take Advantage of Teachable Moments

 You also need to learn how to take advantage of certain situations to instill character lessons to your kids. Often, this will be when the child misbehaves or inquires about an issue. For example, a child who lies about eating all the cookies can be taught honesty from that one misdeed.

 In the same breath, you should try to discipline your kids appropriately. Punishment should not be given for its own sake. Teach them that unpleasant consequences follow misbehavior and that punishment comes from a place of love. Also, try to ensure that punishment aims at amending a wrong.

 

Positive Reinforcement

 As parents, criticizing the wrong that kids do is almost automatic. Unfortunately, it can be counterproductive if you are trying to instill good behavior in your children. This is because children tend to repeat the actions that catch their parents’ attention, whether negative or positive. If you are always yelling at kids for misbehaving, they will continue misbehaving to catch your attention.

The smart thing to do is to notice when your kids do right. Saying something as simple as, “Ethan, I noticed you organized your room today,” is enough to get your child to keep his room organized.

It would be best if you also watched how you point out misbehavior from your child. Avoid using words like always or never. For instance, don’t say, “Joan, you never share your toys with your sister” or “Tony, you are always mean to other kids.” If you do, your kids will internalize this message and develop a negative self-image, which is fatal to good character development.

Another tip to encourage positive behavior is to show your faith in your child’s potential for doing good. Show them that you trust them to do the right thing, and they most likely will do just what you want them to do.

It’s imperative that you consistently work to instill character in your children.  While you’re working on rewarding positive behavior in your older kids, reward your infant with one of the best baby swings on the market.  Soothing them in one of these beautiful and functionable swings will free up time so you can get creative with your rewards.  

 

Lean on Literature

Another way you can instill positive life lessons in your kids is to read children stories that illustrate the benefits of doing right. You can also tell them real-life stories where virtue triumphed over vice. This will impress on them that doing the correct thing is beneficial.

 

 

 

instilling character in kids

 

 

Control Their Consumption of Media

 Children today learn quite a lot from the media. Therefore, your role as a parent is to ensure that they are exposed to the kind of media that emphasizes the values you want them to acquire. It would be best if you also tried to limit their exposure to negative media.

Admittedly, controlling your kid’s consumption of media is easier said than done. Your job as a parent is to not be your child’s friend, but be friendly.  Share an interest in who they are and what interests them.  Discuss world events and what’s happening in your local area.  Eventually, they will trust you enough to let you into a part of their world. This will give you a chance to influence them positively and put the things they learn from the media in perspective.

 

Give Them a Chance to Practice What They Learn

Finally, allow your children to practice the virtues you teach them. Provide opportunities for your kids to get involved in volunteer work. They can volunteer at an animal shelter.  Or, have them volunteer at a local soup kitchen to instill selflessness and care.  Furthermore, you can ask them to donate some of their money to a local charity to teach them generosity.

 As parents, instilling good character in your kids is a sacred duty. Although it might be hard, it is also gratifying. Start practicing the tips shared in this blog post, and you will find it much easier to mold your kids into the adults you want them to become.

 

 

Tips On Raising Confident Children

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on raising confident children. There’s nothing you’d like to see more than your child happy and confident, right? We all want our kids to be at their best mentally, physically and socially. It starts at home, and it starts while they are you.  Teach them early, and it will stay with them throughout their childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Although we love them regardless of their condition at any given time, we want them at their best should at all times.  

 

children's confidence

 

Confidence is massive in a person’s life. If you’re not feeling good about yourself and the situation around you, then you’re probably not going to perform well or have a good time.  It’s important that children experience and feel confidence at a tender age.  Those experiences and feelings  will determine how their mind works when they’re older. The person you are today and the embedded default feelings you go to are literally a direct result of how things went when you were a little kid. 

Being a confident example for your child is imperative.  Teaching them to be confident is easy when you know what to do. 

 

Raising Confident Children:

 

Be Positive Around Them All The Time  

If you’re constantly positive around them, then they’re going to feed off of that kind of energy. People, including yourself, will react to the stimuli around them. You may not realize it, but you’re the result of the people around you.  This includes family, friends, co-workers etc.  They all play a part in forming your opinions, beliefs, and feelings. 

If you’re constantly optimistic and positive around them, then they’re going to grow up thinking that’s the best (and only) way of approaching things. If you’re a miserable, negative person, then they’re going to pick up those kinds of mannerisms. Kids taking in information like a sponge at a young age.  And, it stays with them forever. Make sure you’re giving off the correct impression – it could be very significant. 

 

Keep Them Active And Exercising  

People need to be on the move in order to feel good about themselves.  They may be a select few that can lounge around all day and stay content, but the majority need to be up and moving.  You don’t need to become a drill sergeant, but getting them up and out of the house will do them good. Today, kids are stuck inside in front of a computer screen or TV.  So, make sure they’re moving around enough.  Keeping active makes the brain release chemicals that make us feel more positive and happy. Getting tasks done also feels a lot better than sitting around achieving nothing!

 

 

children's confidence

 

 

Teach Them About Respect 

If your child learns about respecting another person, they’ll get to know the ins and outs of respecting themselves.  . When it comes to confidence, a lot of the issues are social ones. If your kid knows how to behave when around other people, then they’re going to be in a better boat than, say, a socially awkward youngster. This kind of competence can then lead to even more confidence as they grow into their impressionable teenage years. 

 

Get Professional Help  

If you feel as though you might not be able to do this on your own, then you can always get assistance. There are many practitioners that deal with the minds and bodies of children.  So, a little research will be beneficial.  If they need pediatric speech therapy,  then it’s worth considering.  It could end up benefiting them in a big way as they grow. It could be the difference between a confident adult, and an overly anxious and shy one.

 

Teach Them the Fundamentals Of Life  

If they early about being healthy and stable, your child will stand a better chance of being confident in many things. A lot of children are never taught how to do basic things like domestic chores and shopping.  Sadly, they end up having a lack of confidence as adults. If you teach them these very basic and fundamental aspects of life, then they’ll be a lot more competent and confident. 

I hope my tips on raising confident children has been beneficial.  Start early and be consistent.  You will be able to sit back and watch you child grow into a confident and productive human being.

4 Ways to Teach Your Children To Be Grateful

Being grateful is something that you learn as you grow.  So, teach your children to be grateful at an early age.  It’s a trait that’s heavily influenced as a child.  It can be very easy for a child to become spoiled.  And, that’s not something that they could carry into to adulthood.

 

 

Be Grateful

 

 

Here’s a few tips on teaching your children to be grateful:

 

Teach Them Manners

Manners are something that gets taught from a young age.  Unfortunately, those who don’t have manners in their adulthood can be met with some hostility. Saying please and thank you are two phrases that don’t take much effort.  So, when they have the opportunity to use their manner you should encourage them.  Do it every time they receive a gift, like one from BeadifulBABY.  Or  when someone does something that helps them in life. Being appreciative of others is a part of being grateful.  Furthermore, it’s one thing that they’ll need in order to thrive in life.  If manners aren’t given, they shouldn’t expect to receive them back.

 

Expose Them More To Reality

The reality of life is one that, as parents, we tend to shield them from. As they’re growing up, everything they see on television, and you do with them is likely to be a positive one. However, as they grow, it’s important to expose them slowly to the realities of the world. Teaching them that their life is likely to be richer than others because there’s always someone who’s suffering more than yourself. It’s a good lesson for them to learn so that they’re more appreciative of what they have and hopefully further down the line, they’ll want to give back to those who are less fortunate.

 

 

teaching manners

 

Make Them Earn It

Being grateful for what you have can come from earning it.  Doing household chores or getting a job when they reach a certain age, is a great way to show them how money is earned.  Things are rarely given to you for free.  And, it’s important to show them this lesson by having them earn pocket money.

 

Get Them To Name Their Blessings Daily

The blessings we have in life are those that we’re thankful for.  Sometimes we forget how lucky we are and just how good we have it.  It’s important to make them aware of their blessings.  One way to do this is to get them to name their blessings daily. Writing it down or sharing at the dinner table are great family activities.  These little recognitions in life are going to really help them understand what they have and what they should be grateful for.

 

Teaching your children to be grateful is a really effective quality for them to have, and as they grow, it will reflect positively in their adult life too.

 

Tips on Building Your Son’s Character

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on building your son’s character.   Are you striving to raise good, decent human beings? Community service and leadership helps build a child’s character.  Both have the ability to help shape your child’s development and outlook on life.  As parents, building values, integrity, honesty, faith and more is a huge responsibility.   Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone.

 

 

building your child's character

 

 

My grandson plays in the Virginia Beach Pop Warner football program.  Nothing Is Given Everything is Earned is their motto.  What a lesson to teach our sons and daughters.   It prepares them to be productive human beings and work for what they want in life.

Furthermore, they involve their players in Promise Keepers.  The purpose of Promise Keepers is to help men learn respect, purpose, and influence in their homes and communities. Many lack role models on how to achieve these goals.  So, Promise Keepers helps rise up men with integrity and to identify with Christ.  This includes young men who never attend church.  Furthermore, they teach men to be humble, honor women and children, and follow God at all costs.

Bill McCartney founded Promise Keepers in 1990.  The program has touched the life of 7 million boys and men.  They believe in building a strong foundation that will keep young boys on the right path no matter where their future takes them.

 

 7 Promises in Building Your Son’s  Character: 

 

Honor  – A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer and obedience to God’s Word.  Teach your son to give glory and all honor to God in everything he does.  It will be a blessing to watch him pray, attend church and obey his parents, grandparents and other leaders.  My grandson was leading us in prayer and blessing the food when he was five.

 

Brotherhood – A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing relationships with other men.  They must strive to understand that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.  So, being a team player is important.  It’s imperative that you teach your son that it’s okay to reach out to others. Teach your son that he doesn’t have to go through life alone or deal with his problems alone.  Being a part of a group helps young men feel like they belong and it helps build a strong foundation for them to stand on.

 

 

building your son's character

 

 

Virtue – A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.  It’s so important that teens/children have someone to turn to.  Especially, when they reach puberty.  Peer pressure can be difficult for kids.  Socializing with other who have the same values can help during difficult times.  Especially, when difficult decisions have to be made.  Furthermore, teens need to understand that not having sex and not following the crowd is cool. 

 

Commitment – A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.  Many young men come from single parent homes.  As a result, parents come together and open their homes to other team members.  Young boys get an opportunity to see homes that are different from theirs or the same.  It’s important for young men to learn to love who they are and where they come from.

 

Change Making – A Promise Keeper understands that Jesus calls him to be His hands and feet, serving others with integrity. He purposely lifts up the leadership of the church and his nation in prayer.  Teaching your son to give Jesus the glory in that he does will build confidence.  He will learn to rely on someone greater than him, and he will carry it into all aspects of his life.

 

 

 

building your son's character

 

 

 

Unity – A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.  Expose your child to other children who don’t look like them or who don’t worship like them is imperative.  So, it’s important that children understand diversity.  Involving them in programs and being around other who are different from them helps them understand diversity better.

 

Obedience – A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.  Teaching children to be obedient to their parents, teachers, and elders is important.  With this comes manners and respect.

 

Finally, your child doesn’t have to play organized sports or go to church every Sunday to implement these teachings into his life.  You can use these stepping stones in building your child’s character on a solid foundation.  Good character builds a good personality, and it is the basis for personal growth.  It is the core of a person’s characteristics, and character building should start at an early age.

How to Encourage Kids to Make Healthy Choices

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on how to encourage kids to make healthy choices.There is no denying that health and happiness go hand in hand. As a parent, you have the power to help your children develop healthy habits that will enhance their health and overall quality of life.   

 

encourage kids to make healthy choices

 

 

Here are just a few ways to put them on a positive path:

 

Let them make choices at dinner time

 

Food is a major source of contention between children and parents across the globe.  However, if you’re willing to give your entire family a say in what goes on their plate it doesn’t have to be. Start by letting your kids help with shopping. With the price of food skyrocketing, you may have to get creative with your grocery budget.  Start by choosing seasonal produce from your local farmers market.  Give your kids their own basket and tasks.  For example, let them shop for fruit and vegetables with specific traits.  Your child could be on the lookout for all things orange (e.g., carrots, peppers or oranges).  Your ‘tween or teen can pick produce from plants like tomatoes or melons.

 

Limit their consumption of non-water beverages

 

In an ideal world, you and your children would drink only water or milk. But with so many choices, it’s almost impossible to avoid the occasional soda, sports drink or cup of hot cocoa.  Don’t keep these beverages in the house.  Instead, use fresh fruit to infuse water with flavor if your kids want a variety.   This cherry and lime water is a great recipe but you can experiment with any juicy piece of produce.

 

Prioritize physical activities

 

The amount of physical activity your children receive gets directly influences their risk of becoming obese as adults. The CDC states, “Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being”.  It prevents various health conditions. Even if you’re exhausted after a long day at work, spent 30 minutes playing outdoors or taking a walk around the block with the kids. Children learn by example and will mimic your behaviors. Make sure your actions encourage healthy choices.

 

 

encourage kids to make healthy choices

 

Be open and honest about uncomfortable subjects

 

Sex, crime, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, death, drugs and alcohol are all things from which we would like to protect our children.  But, the reality is that these activities and events happen. By arming your children with information, you put them in a better position to say no to peer pressure.  Furthermore, they can avoid situations that could cause them harm.  Check out this article from the Conversation on these topics.

 

Don’t fix their mistakes

 

As much as you think they are perfect, your children will make mistakes. Let them. If your children never have a chance to fail, they will never learn coping or problem-solving skills. Be there to guide and keep them safe, but avoid the temptation to tell them they are wrong before try something new.  It’s hard to stand by and do nothing if your child is hurt, defeated, or sad.  But, navigating life’s ups and downs is part of the growing up process.  Overcoming their self-imposed obstacles helps them develop confidence.  Dr. Peggy Drexler stresses that you shouldn’t inhibit your child’s ability to grow in this capacity simply to eliminate your own worry.

While it’s up to you to make sure your kids are safe, healthy and well-balanced, you can’t make all of their decisions for them.  By allowing them an age-appropriate level of independence, setting a positive example, and giving them the opportunity to make and rectify their own mistakes, you will empower your children.  Use our tips on how to encourage kids to make healthy choices.  You will also help them the strength and confidence to make good decisions as they grow from helpless children to whole and healthy adults.

 

Parenting Tips On Teaching Your Children Life Skills

Preparing our children to go out into the world is an essential part of raising them.  So many children are not prepared to survive in the big world that awaits them.  We depend on our school systems to educate our children; however, their education most also come from their home life.  Teaching children to be responsible and a functional human being is a part of parenting.   So, get them off the electronics and start preparing them for life.  Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on teaching children life skills.

 

 

 

life skills

 

We have 25 tips on what children should have learned  when they enter adulthood.  Teaching them early and at home will eliminate the stress and strain of not knowing or having sufficient skills to survive.  Lets start on some ideas for teaching children life skills.

 

  • Money Management –  Learning how to balance a check book and management money is a necessary life skill.
  • Organizational Skills – Getting organized and being tidy is a good habit to have.  Especially, if you have roommates during college or after college.  Nobody wants to live with a slob.
  • How to Cook – Teaching both our sons and daughters is a great way to put them on the road to healthy eating.  Preparing healthy meals eliminates the need to order pizza and fast food.  It’s a great skill to have when married with children.
  • Assertive Skills – Being able to express and defend yourself with yelling and violence is a necessary skill.  At some point, it will be needed.
  • How to Clean –  Being clean is another life skill everyone needs.  Being unclean affects your emotional and physical health.
  • How to Mow Grass – Mowing should be a skill taught at home.  Teens should be given this chore as a part of home maintenance.  It will come in handy once they purchase their own.
  • How to Find Employment – Teach your child the importance of making their own money, but also how to apply for a job.
  • How to Change a Tire – The number of teens who don’t know how to change a tire is astounding.  These skills aren’t taught in high school, so teach them at home.  Make it part of the safe driving training.  Most importantly, don’t limit the training to your sons, our daughters should know too.
  • The Importance of Being Punctual – Teach your children the importance of being on time.  Showing up late for a job is unprofessional and showing up late for a date with the girls or friends is rude.
  • Be a Team Player – Being able to work individually is a good trait, but so is being able to work as a team member.  Playing organized sports is a great way to learn this skill.
  • CPR –  Everyone should learn CPR.  It’s a live saving skill.

 

life skills

 

 

  • How to Swim –  If your children are going to attend pool parties or join friends on the beach or other vacation destinations, it’s imperative that they learn how to swim.
  • Good Manners – Also, good manners  is a life skill that will used and needed in everyday conversation as well as on the job.
  • How to Do Laundry – Learning how to wash and iron clothing is a necessary skill.  Looking unkempt on the job or in your everyday life is not a good trait.  Besides, when you look good you feel good.
  • The Importance of Being Positive – A positive attitude is more attractive than a negative one.
  • To Have Faith – We all need to have faith and trust in someone greater than ourselves.
  • How to Drive – Never be dependent on anyone to get you from point A to B.  Being independent is a good thing.  Having a driver’s license will provide a means to getting to school, your job and social activities.
  • Accepting Failure – Unfortunately, life is filled with success and failures.  Accepting failures is as important as accepting the victories in life.
  • Have Integrity – Being honest, trustworthy, fair, and ethical are all traits that we should teach our children.

 

 

life skills

 

 

  • To Pray – Also, praying is our way of thanking God and asking for acceptance, forgiveness and guidance.
  • Be a Good Neighbor – Reach out to your neighbors, and your children will follow your example.
  • Volunteer – Teach your children the importance of volunteering in the community.
  • Stay Active – Staying active is essential to your health.  Take a walk as a family, ride a bike, obtain a gym membership are few examples.
  • Get a Hobby – Having a hobby is important.  Doing things that you love brings joy, reduces stress and relaxes you.
  •  Have a Sense of Humor – We must learn to laugh at ourselves and at the world.  It will make living life much easier.

 

Last, I hope that you are teaching your children these life skills.  We can no longer depend on our school system to raise our children.  Most importantly, we must step up and ensure they are ready to enter the world as an adult.

 

Tips for Teaching Children to be Assertive

Parenting is a monumental  job.   It requires teaching our children to be assertive, how to deal with their emotions, and dealing with positive and negative feelings.  Even when they don’t know what they’re feeling or why.  This parenting skill requires communication skills, empathy, and understanding.  Remember your childhood and teen years.  Today, we’re giving you a few parenting tips on teaching children to be assertive.    

 

 

parenting tips

 

Teaching your kids to be assertive

Children are not the best at articulating their thoughts and feelings.  Furthermore, they lack the experience in articulating many aspects of their human experience.  The responsibility of teaching children to be articulate, honest and respectful is a major responsibility.  While we want our children to express themselves, and ask questions like an HST lawyer,  they don’t always have the skills.

We must remember, teaching children to be assertive is vital to them being able to create boundaries.  Furthermore, it helps them improve their self-esteem and confidence.  As adults, we have seen the issues that come with not being assertive.  It can range from saying yes to things we don’t want to do to being burned out because we can’t say no. To avoid creating a similar future for your child, teach them assertiveness early.  They will know to stand up for themselves in an amicable manner and thus develop stronger relationships.

 

Helping children navigate their emotions

The initial stages of teaching a child to be assertive can be difficult.  Children will follow your example.  If you have issues with assertiveness, now would be an excellent time to practice what you will be preaching.  For example, if you always clean up after dinner  make it clear that others must help.  You will likely be emotionally charged, but remember to remain calm as your children will be watching and listening.

As you master assertiveness in your life, encourage your children to do the same.  Temperament plays a role in how your child conveys their message. Those with stronger personalities can come across as aggressive.  If so, gently point it out to your child how others may perceive them.  Remind them that the point of getting their message across is to create understanding.   It is not to offend others. It is vital that they learn to respect others even while disagreeing.

Your child might initially have a hard time because they are still learning about their emotions and how to communicate them. Be patient and ask them to extend the same for themselves.  Teaching assertiveness creates an opportunity to have conversations about the importance of self-awareness and boundaries.   Additionally, you can discuss what they can do when someone is unkind or dismissive after they assert themselves.  Equally, praise them for the times they are confident and encourage them to express their feelings too.

 

Remaining positive through the teaching process

No parent gets everything right, so remember that it takes practice. When you feel the message is not getting home take a different tactic.  Most importantly, remember there are factors we have to contend with that are out of our control, including their social circles.  Be diligent, and do your best.

 

 

 

Building Your Child’s Confidence Through Family Projects

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on building your child’s confidenceSpending time with your children is something all parents want to be able to do.  However, finding time can often be difficult.  Especially, when you’re trying to juggle work schedules, meetings, school, after-school activities, and chores.  So, why not get your children involved in family projects?  Not only will you be doing projects with your children, but you will be strengthening your bond as well.

Furthermore, you can build confidence in your children with family projects. Doing projects with your children teaches them new skills, and helps build their confidence.  And, they will teach your children how to work as a team.  A skill that will help them in all aspects of their lives.

 

building confidence

 

Gardening is a good project for the entire family and combines art and science for a great learning experience.  It can be refreshing to get your children away from their electronics and outside learning about nature. Whether you want to start a vegetable or a flower garden, you must prepare the soil. Even younger children can help out because they love to play in the dirt.  Make sure they aren’t using any tools that may hurt them. By working together as a team you, your family can not only start a beautiful garden, you can also work together to maintain it. It will need to be watered if it doesn’t rain enough. When vegetables are ripe, they will need to be picked.  Your family can enjoy eating the fruits of your labor together.

Another way to building your child’s confidence is to bring out their artistic side. If you have a bland wall in your home give it some pizzazz.  For older children or teens, especially if they have an innate artistic ability, why not let them put their talents to good use? You can paint your walls, put up textured wall art, or decorate with stencils or pictures.  It will add some color and uniqueness to your home. The younger children can help by choosing the wall art, choosing the colors or handing tools to the older ones.  To further include your younger children, have them decorate the mailbox. Most children enjoy drawing, coloring and painting.  They will feel special, and have something to show off to their friends and others who visit your home.

Treehouses are very popular.  It’s a great family project, and another way to build confidence in your children.  You want to be sure you are using a sturdy tree basic woodworking skills. A treehouse can become a home where your children can spend time alone, time with their friends, or other family members. In order to make sure the treehouse is safe, it will take some time, patience, dedication, and determination. In a world where instant gratification is what most people expect, this can be a valuable lesson.  Once the treehouse is complete, you may consider starting a new tradition such as a weekly Friday night of telling stories and playing games.

 Family projects can include cleaning out the garage? Although this idea of a project might not sound very appealing, the entire family will be glad they worked together to organize their garage once it is done. You never know what you might find when you clean out clutter. Your children might find something they thought they had lost forever! You can install shelves or racks that will help maximize the clutter. Think about how much easier it will be to find things in your newly organized and neat garage. Planning a family movie afterward might also be a good incentive. Your children will be given the satisfaction working together to complete a task.

Working on family projects together is a way to building your child’s confidence. It’s similar to taking family vacations. You are making memories working and playing together. You might even learn new things about your children that you didn’t know.  Their responses will give you insights into what is important to them, and their confidence will rise as you include them in important projects for your home.