Reward Children. Give praise and recognition. Emphasize the good - not the bad. |
Take Their Ideas - Feelings - And Emotions Seriously. Don't belittle them by saying "You'll grow out of it" or "It's not as bad as you think". |
Define Limits And Rules Clearly. Enforce them - but allow lee-way for your children within these limits. |
Be A Good Role Model. Let your children know that you feel good about yourself. Also let them see too that you can make mistakes and learn from them. |
Teach Your Children How To Deal With Time And Money. Help them spend time wisely and budget their money carefully. |
Have Reasonable Expectations Of Your Child. Help them to set reachable goals so they can achieve success. |
Help Your Children Develop Tolerance. Teach tolerance toward those with different values - backgrounds - and norms. Point out other people's strengths. |
Give Your Children Responsibility. They will feel useful - and valued. |
Be Available. Give support when children need it. |
Show Them That What They Do Is Important To You. Talk with them about their activities and interests. Go to their games - parent's day at school - drama presentations - award ceremonies for example. |
Express Your Values. Describe the experiences that determined your values - the decisions you made to accept certain beliefs - the reasons behind your feelings. |
Spend Time Together. Share favorite activites. |
| Discuss Problems Without Placing Blame. Do not comment on a child's character - - if children know that there is a problem but don't feel attacked - they are more likely to help look for a solution. |
Use Phrases That Build Self-Esteem. Say "Thank you for helping" or "That was an excellent idea!". Avoid phrases that hurt self-esteem such as "Why are you so stupid?" - "How many times have I told you?" |
Show How Much You Care About Them. Hug them. Tell them they are terrific and that you love them. |