Raising well-rounded children is definitely something that you want when it comes to parenting and how much time you spend on your children is important, especially when they’re young. There’s a lot that you can teach your children and while you might feel like you’re navigating an unknown path, every life lesson you offer them is likely to do good for them in the future.
As humans, we can only do our very best when it comes to raising children, especially as there’s no real guidebook on what is right or wrong. What might work for one child, might also not work the same for another, which is why each experience is different from the next.
With that being said if you’re looking to raise well-rounded children or just want to do your best as a parent in raising your kids, here’s the ultimate guide to raising well-rounded children.
Be a role model
It’s a wonderful and heart-warming moment when your child turns around to you and tells you that you’re their role model in life. Whether they’re a mere five or six years old, or twenty-five years old, that feeling is just as heart-warming and encouraging.
Being a role model for your kids is definitely something that you want to aspire to curating and there are a number of ways in which you can do this. One example is to try and practice good habits whenever you’re around them.
While you might indulge yourself when they’re in bed or at school, it’s good to practice good habits around your little ones – or not-so-little ones as they get older. Treating others how you’d also like to be treated is another way to improve upon your efforts as a role model. That means respect going both ways and taking accountability where required.
The more you can do all the above, the more likely you’re going to help position yourself as an excellent role model for your kids.
Make time for playtime online
Playtime is definitely something that your kids should be getting plenty of growing up and there are many ways in which playtime can be injected into their life.
From playing online games to enjoying some time outside with friends, making playtime accessible in many ways is important to do.
Playtime online is certainly something that can be encouraged more so nowadays, especially as future generations will grow up in this environment where technology is ever-present. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate board games into your child’s routine, then it’s worth looking at what games are available online, like chess for example.
Be encouraging with your child’s interests
The worst thing that you can do as a parent, is to try and live a life that you wanted and force them to live that same life.
Your child or children are going to have different wants, needs, and interests as they get older and start to discover the world. Therefore, it’s important to be encouraging with your child’s interests, however weird and wonderful they may. It might be an interest or curiosity that you yourself are not that fussed or interested in. However, it’s important to show interest in them.
When you show interest in your child’s interests, it makes them feel special and seen. That’s something that is imperative as a child growing up. Having that core support and encouragement from within the home are the foundations that your children will need because they might not get that same support in other areas of their lives until they’re older.
Talk A Lot
Be active with your communication skills as a parent because kids themselves learn their communication skills by watching their parents.
A lot of what they learn is learned behavior and influenced by their parents, which is why you want to be careful about what you say and where you say it. Children learn how to express themselves by observing how you yourself communicate with the people around you too.
That’s why it’s imperative that you’re talking to your child as often as possible. While many parents will ask their children about how their day was, or ask them what they did at school, there’s more to be communicated.
Encouraging them to talk about their mental health is also an important part of communication, especially when you don’t always quite know what they’re thinking. It’s also often inaccurate that parents know their children inside and out. When they get older, they will naturally start hiding things, so it’s always good to nurture open communication from a young age.
Make sure discipline is given where needed
While the days of smacking your children are long gone – hopefully – discipline should still be given when needed. This can be in the form of early bedtimes or taking away certain privileges like phone or electronic device usage in general.
Discipline is important to give where you can because, despite its negative connotations, it’s a way of showing love to your children by teaching them better habits. It shows that you care about them by telling them how they misbehaved and how they should have handled whatever situation or outburst that transpired as a result of their actions.
After all, the decisions they make, whether right or wrong, will influence the life they have. Discipline is a part of growing up and something that will appear in all aspects of their life in different ways.
Keep up with a consistent routine
A consistent routine is something you want to incorporate into your children’s day-to-day habits. When you’re consistent with the routine, it becomes easier to implement as a habit.
Kids also thrive on routines, you’ll be hard-pressed to find young children who don’t like to know where they’re going and what they’re doing every second of the day. Having a set schedule gives your children the reassurance to know what to expect and to have a familiarity that brings them comfort.
Establishing a regular routine is better to do from a younger age, rather than trying to incorporate it later on in their childhood. From bedtime to dinner time and family activities outside of the home, routine is useful to take part in all areas of their life.
There are some routines that might shift and change as they grow older. Other routines, you might only have for so long before they’re scrapped or replaced. Remember consistency is key with a routine but there will come times when it needs to change so have a willingness for flexibility.
Let your child make mistakes in life
Your children are going to make mistakes and it’s important to know that this is a part and parcel of life. They’re going to make mistakes regardless of how many precautions and preventative measures you put in yourself as their parents.
Mistakes will be made as they get older too and navigate the adult world. What they learn from in their childhood, will influence their adult years, so it’s good to let them make these mistakes.
With mistakes, they shouldn’t be seen as a negative, but moreso as an opportunity to learn from them. There are lessons in all the mistakes we make in life and at the same time, they shouldn’t be seen as a negative.
When they do make mistakes, be sure to sit down with them and discuss what happened. Work through the frustrations and the regret. Make sure they know that mistakes happen and it’s how you come back or react to them, that really matters.
Play and explore together
As parents, we often forget how fun life can be when you grow up and become an adult. While adulthood can still be fun and enjoyable, living your life through your child is always fun.
It’s a reminder that you’re never too old to play and explore. That’s something that you should be doing with your children from a young age, even if your body is not quite as nimble or flexible as it used to be.
Play and discovery are two of the building blocks that are needed for your child’s development. Your children will likely love to explore their surroundings. Whether they’re quietly observing in the background or getting actively involved in all the activity, it’s good to do the same alongside them or to give them the space where it’s needed.
Developing that sense of wonder and curiosity is something that can make a big difference to your little one’s growth in life so make sure to encourage that sense of curiosity and play wherever and whenever possible. Don’t be afraid to get involved too!
Raising well-rounded children is something that can bring a lot of joy to you as a parent. It’s great to see your little ones develop in the best way possible, so use these tips to help keep them on the best path in life so that hopefully they can thrive well into their adulthood and beyond.
