Simple Guidelines for Better Living in Kids

As a parent of a six year old boy, I sometimes wish for a tried and tested formula that could be applied on my single child to make him more responsible. As he grows, I am faced with different challenges of varied nature every day. Some are pretty trivial in nature but many a times I needed help from others. The plight of my parents when they raised three of us seemed very minuscule, compared to my one child who is well aware of many things around him. He watches TV, play games on computer, flip through the pages of news paper and ask lots of questions which at times made me irritated. He knows what he wants for his next birthday, what to wear when he goes out in the evening and what to eat at night for dinner. It was always about what HE wants and never what WE want. rnThat is when I seriously gave a thought about how can we, as parent make significant changes in our child’s life. I thought about my childhood days, remembered some golden tips my grandmother gave, read many DIY books and developed an easy way to make our children more responsible not only towards family but to the society as a whole. I have used value system as an important tool in bringing out the best of human nature among kids. Values can be as complex as ‘will to succeed’ or as simple as ‘respect for others’. Inducing some basic values will produce a life changing experience for them.rnPersonal values: Importance of family and their support is the basic personal value. Take some time out for every family gathering. Be available when family members need you. When we care for our family, kids tend to show more compassion to others. Teaching them not to tell lies by appreciating them for every truth goes a long way. Encourage to care for a pet or help a neighbor in tending his garden. These are the small and easy way to teach personal values.rnMoral values: Have an open conversation about what is bad and good, right and wrong in an objective manner. Kids are ready to listen when you give them opportunity to take decision. Our personal choice of right and wrong are based on certain norms and belief, make your kids understand those beliefs rather than forcing it on them. Give them a lot of support so that they come to you when they are in dilemma.rnSocial values: A regular visit to orphanage and participation in community work is a good example to set in front of your child. Equality and choice of religion are two contradictory issues, your child need an unbiased opinion on it. Make him respect his religious choice and others too. rnYou don’t need a course on how to impart values among children. Communication is the most important tool to break barrier among parents and kids. If you think you are good person, just let your child follow your footstep.