Some kids are natural leaders. (We all know that 3-year-old who organizes their playmates and is happy to take charge of whatever situation they are in.) Other children learn how to be a leader like they learn how to play a sport or an instrument. Regardless, here are some ways that parents can foster leadership qualities in their kids that will help them lead as they get older … and one or two things parents accidentally do that end up stifling leadership qualities in their kids.
What does raising independent children look like? And how can parents guide their children in ways that promote independence? Here are a few things to consider as you go about raising independent children.
Expressing your love for your kids isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Each person is different, and we all give and receive love in different ways. The next time you try to bond with your kiddos, try and “speak” their love language. You’ll be amazed at the results.
Have you ever said something that you instantly wished you could take back? Parents often say things to their children that have much bigger ramifications than they realize. Here are four damaging things that parents say to their children without realizing it.
Childrens’ developmental milestones can sneak up on the most experienced of parents. And navigating these fussy, irritable, unpredictable stages can be exhausting. Here’s some information so parents can better understand what’s going on in their child’s brain, as well as a rough timeline on when they can expect these stages to hit.
Don’t lose heart! Just because your child is strong-willed does not mean they are a bad kid. Unfortunately, society has coupled “good kid” with the vague, ill-defined requirement of being “well behaved” — which is actually just code for “a child who doesn’t require much from me as an adult.” Strong-willed kids don’t fit that bill, and that’s why they often get a bad rap.
Being nervous and shy is normal for both adults and children. But if the idea of doing something social turns your preschooler into an anxious mess, it may be something else — they may be struggling with social anxiety.
For parents, part of what makes childhood so special is innocence. Sadly, kids will eventually experience difficult things like poverty, crime, and death in their own lives and witness things like war and hunger on the news. They’ll look to mom or dad to help them make sense of what they’re witnessing, and that can be a terrifying realization for parents.
Humans are messy. We do not enter this world seeking to organize and tidy up. If you’ve been a parent longer than five seconds, you know this firsthand. And if you’re the parent of a toddler or preschooler, you’ve probably experienced how hard it is to convince them to pick up their toys and do their chores.
Everybody appreciates a good map. Some might like the aesthetic appeal of a physical map, but it’s safe to say everyone would literally be lost without the map on their smartphones. Very few people would want to travel to an unknown destination without their phone telling them where to go. Having a guide makes things easy. Dependable. Relaxing.
