Blogs
Importance Of Education In Early Childhood
Early childhood is considered to be the most important phase of development. Preschool education helps in developing their social, physical and emotional self, lack of early education and care will lead to effect child’s physical as well as mental state.
Kids till the age of five need proper care and education, during this time lots of changes takes place in their behavior which will continue till their adults. Therefore, it is necessary to give proper attention to their educational journey.
Bring your little dreamer to ILM Pathway which is the top rated pre-school in Bangalore to build the bright future of your children.
Do Not Overreact To Lies
It is common for children of all ages to lie at some point in time as they grow. Children as small as 3-5 years old will make up stories and tell fantastic tales. As kids get older, they will lie to get out of trouble or to escape punishment.
Kids lying can be a tough time for any parent and you may tend to get frustrated or overwhelmed as a result of their lies. Sometimes, parents tend to overreact when children lie. When parents overreact and take it to heart, they tend to believe that children are not trustworthy. Parents may also wonder where they are going wrong in bringing up their child. This is a very ineffective method of dealing with children and of course will never help them change.
While it is hard to deal with lying, you need to understand that it is a normal part of growing up. When children lie, it means that they are trying to solve their problems in a way that they feel is the best for them. It does not mean that they are being dishonest or unreliable.
Children lie for different reasons depending upon their ages. Most often than not, children are more likely to lie fearing how you will respond to them. Here are some reasons why children lie.
They are unable to differentiate between reality and fantasy: Children between ages 3-5 have not yet developed a clear understanding of the difference between reality and fantasy. They will usually tell interesting tales and will insist that what they have imagined is the truth.
To escape consequences: Children from 7 onwards clearly distinguish truth from fantasy. They know what a truth is and what a lie is. They are also confused about lying to get out of trouble versus lying to protect someone. However, the most common reason for them lying is to escape punishment or avoid unpleasant consequences.
Because others do it: Children are great imitators and observers. Nothing escapes their keen sense of observation. If they notice that other children like their older siblings or adults around them are lying and getting away with things, chances are that they will also lie.
What can parents do?
To begin with, please do not be surprised or hurt to find your child lying. Instead, prepare yourself to handle this situation. Do not overreact.
Given below are some tips that you can use to help manage this situation.
Define acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour: Parents need to sit down with their child and explain both acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour. They need to explain to their child about the important of telling the truth and being honest. Also clearly explain that there will be consequences for lying and explain what those consequences will be.
Be consistent: While it does take a lot of effort, it is very important for you as parents to stay consistent. If your child lies, then follow up with consequences you have already told them about. This is an ideal way to let your child know that you mean what you say.
Lead by example: It is very simple, if you don’t lie in front of your children, you child will also not lie. Parents need to set an example by setting their own standards for lying. The first and foremost thing to do is to teach honesty at home. Remember, children raised in an honest environment also do lie at times, so when such a situation does occur, it is vital to remain calm. Remind yourself that these lies are not personal attacks on you as a parent, and hence do not react in anger. Instead, analyse the reasons as to why your child lied at that age and at that situation and respond accordingly.
Be available for your child: Parents need to examine themselves as well. Sit down and realistically ask yourself if there any reason why your child is not able to tell you the truth. Is your child scared of you or your punishment? While it is important to let your child know that lying is unacceptable, you also need to help your child understand that you are there for them. You need to explain that you love them and have their best interest in mind. They should feel comfortable sharing they fears, joys, and sorrows with you. The more comfortable they are with you, the more open and honest they will be with you.
Start early: Dealing with lying at an early stage is the most effective way of dealing with it and preventing it from becoming a far more serious issue. Do not wait until your child lies, instead start speaking to them about the importance of being truthful and the results it may produce.
When should parents worry about their child lying?
Parents should worry if your child is lying frequently and consistently. If your child is found to be repeatedly lying, then both the parents and child should consider approaching a child psychologist or a counsellor.
Children with conditions like Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disease (ADHD) may find it difficult to stop lying. Children who may be under substance abuse may also take up lying to cover their guilt or shame.
Understand that kids lying is not a serious problem in general. Yes it does become a menace when lying turns out to be habitual. Therefore, come up with a strategy to deal with this issue. Plan ahead on how you will deal with your child when he or she is caught lying. Also, as much as possible, try to stay calm and neutral to encourage them to speak the truth. By being very harsh, you may end up building a big barrier between you and your children and they may never open up to you.
Finally, the most important point to remember is that your actions and style of speaking the truth are the right ways to teach your child in being truthful.
Good luck and happy parenting!
How to say no to kids
It can be difficult to say “No” to your kids. Kids will often try to manipulate or negotiate till they get what they want.
Disciplining a child is very tough indeed. However, by not disciplining your child, and by being far too lenient with them, they can grow into a dependent person with an extremely low self-esteem. So it is well worth saying “No” to them when you should and let your child grow into a balanced personality.
You’ve perhaps experienced the scenario many times when everything’s been going well for you as a family until your kid wants to do something you don’t approve of. You say ‘no’ to it and your child bawls out loud, hoping to convert your ‘no’ into an ‘ok, just this time.’
Are there ways and times when you should say no? Most definitely so. There are many ways of showing your displeasure.
Given below are a few ways of saying “No” to your kids.
Say it once and say it firmly: When you say ‘no’ the first time to your child, say it firmly so that they understand that you don’t like what they want. Look serious and tell them why you don’t approve of what they want.
Explain why not: These days, children can’t accept a ‘no’ without sufficient reason, so go ahead and give it to them. Tell your kid why he or she cannot do what you don’t approve of.
Change your ‘no’ around: Combine a yes and a no so that your child doesn’t feel that you never give him what he wants. For instance, if they want a drink, say, “Sure, you can have a drink, but only with dinner.” So, if dinner is still some time away, they will have to wait for it.
Don’t yell at your kid: Experts say that when parents yell at their kids, it could lead to problems of emotional development and behaviour. Besides, children can feel depressed and have low self-esteem due to this. So, speak with your child in a friendly and calm manner.
Don’t embarrass your child in public: If your child seeks your permission for something with a gang of friends, don’t say ‘no’ outright or they might feel snubbed and small. Reason it out with them and try to meet them half-way.
Don’t be vague with your child: If your child wants something now or wants to do something now, don’t put off their request with, “Not now, maybe a little later.” After saying this, if you don’t stand by your word, your child may never trust you. Instead of granting their wish “a little later”, tell them to wait for their birthday, or after their exams are over so that they have a concrete idea of the time they need to wait it out.
Don’t take all the decisions: As your child grows, they will want to take some decisions, particularly as they get used to the taste of certain foods and sweets, or a new toy they have seen on TV or an electronic item everyone’s talking about. Besides, giving them the power to take one’s decision will make them feel that you value their opinion and they will feel loved. You can also do this when you’re shopping at the store. Pick a few things your child likes for breakfast and ask them to choose anyone. Pick that one just for them to eat and make them feel special.
Go with your spouse’s decision: Often, when your child asks for something, like permission to stay over at a friend’s place, it is common for your spouse to say ‘yes’ to it and you ‘no.’ This confuses your child and teaches the little one that they can get what they want from the other parent, if not you. So, decide together when it comes to your child, or go ahead blindly with your spouse’s decision.
Give your child a choice: If your kid says, “Let me watch a little more TV.” Your reply can be: “You’ve already seen your favourite show. Now, get into bed and let me read you a story.”
Tell your child what you want him or her to do with a positive tone: Say, “Come, let’s put away all your toys in that bright blue box” instead of, “No, you’re not going to leave your toys all over the room.”
Tell your child why: According to studies, if you reason with your child, citing reasons for what you want from them, they may agree to you. For example: “Crumpling the newspaper isn’t a good idea. Instead, why don’t we use to make a paper bag?”
Conclusion:
Saying no to your child can be hard. However, disciplining your child is important for your child’s overall well-being and happiness. As a parent, you must help your child build the skills they will need to manage when someone tells them “No”.
Children - Focusing Abilities
Some kids are born with focusing abilities but for some it is difficult or they feel bored, whether in studies or in any extra-curricular activities. To overcome this they can learn and engage in practices that help them in concentrating. As children are born learners, despite of having individual differences they explore and learn with eagerness and curiosity.
But this has to be taken care by you as a parent because learning is not just limited to schools, it is their environment and people around them that has major influence on their behavior.
Therefore more than any other time of life, early childhood is a period of never ending possibilities.
Reason why ILM Pathway promote not only textbook learning but it also provide problem solving, critical thinking and creative skills. That help them in focusing and building self-confidence.
Visit our center today and let us help you to prepare your little dreamer for formal schooling.
Rewarding Little Ones For Good Behaviour
A reward is a result a child receives when he or she behaves well. It is a nice way of saying “well done” or “good job” when your child has behaved in a pleasing way. A reward could be in the form of saying something positive or giving your child an ice cream or a surprise treat or granting an extra benefit like allowing your child to choose a special meal for lunch or dinner.
When you appreciate your child for his or her good behavior with a reward, your child tends to repeat the good behavior many times over.
Rewards vs. bribe
Some people tend to think that children being rewarded, and bribing are the same. However, parents must always remember that rewards and bribes are not the same at all. Let us look at the difference between a reward and a bribe.
A reward is given because of good behavior
A bribe is offered before your see the result of a good behavior
Advantages and disadvantages of rewarding your child for good behavior
It is very difficult to debate if rewarding children’s behavior is good due to varied opinions of people. While there is no right or wrong answer, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that when parents praise and reward their children, the children tend to behave better.
Rewarding a child for good behavior sends out a positive signal in your child’s mind that what they are doing is good and acceptable. Thereby, you encourage your child to behave well in the future too.
Another thought is that children follow rules better if a reward system is introduced to them. This system is a good way to make your children work harder or better to achieve as many rewards as possible. This practice will in fact help them get ready for adulthood as they are aware by then that there are guidelines to follow in life.
However, parents should be careful of over rewarding their kids. Some experts suggest that excessive rewarding of good behavior can erase a child’s natural quality of helping others.
Tips on rewarding your child for good behavior
As parents, you should teach your children the difference between good and bad behavior. The only and best way to teach or educate them is to be a role model in exhibiting good behavior.
Let us look at a few ways to help and encourage good behavior in your children:
-
Verbally acknowledge good behavior. Speak about it aloud to your child when you feel good about what your child did.
-
Use encouraging words more than criticizing words.
-
Look for opportunities to appreciate your children or to bring about a change in them.
-
Accept that every child is different and that they come with their unique strengths and abilities. Learn to appreciate the uniqueness of your child.
-
Try appreciating your child’s efforts for trying hard in achieving things.
-
Reward your child for his or her good behavior. However, be careful not to overdo it otherwise your child may expect you to reward him/her every time they do something good.
As parents offer your children social or material rewards to show your appreciation towards their good behavior. Some methods of rewarding are:
-
Shower your child with affection – sometimes all it takes is a nice big hug or a few words of encouragement such as ‘good job’ to make your child happy.
-
Take your child out for a special activity or outing
-
Make them their favorite meal or dessert
-
Permit your child to play or spend extra time with his/her friends
-
Gift them something that they have been asking for a while
-
Grant extra time to your child in carrying out his or her hobby
-
Grant them extra play time
-
Reward your child with a little extra pocket money
Conclusion
Everybody, be it an adult or a child can benefit greatly from being rewarded for a good job. As parents, how you choose to reward your child is a matter of your personal choice. Please remember that there is no right or wrong way of rewarding. Like every method in parenting, what works for one parent may not work for another parent. It would be useful to discuss or exchange ideas with other parents and see what works for them in dealing with their children.
But do remember, there must be a proper balance between rewarding and punishing your child to allow them to develop into responsible adults.
Good luck and happy parenting!
Unique Child Unique Potential
Each child is unique and special. All children are gifted with a unique set of talents and potential, in which they may shine and excel. Every child is distinctly talented and no two children can or should be compared. They are blessed with their own special individuality. Most often, parents fail to recognize these abilities in their children and push them into something which is not their forte. As parents, we are anxious about the well-being of our children. We want the best for our children and desire that they be successful and happy in life. Many parents have a very rigid outlook on life, where they consider a person being successful only if have a standard job, such as, a doctor, an engineer, a banker or a teacher. They are unable to see that there are many more areas where their child may excel and be the best at. To help our children be happy and successful we need to embrace their individuality and recognize their abilities.
Children are full of potential and when they are given the right opportunities they blossom into wonderful individuals. It is the responsibility of parents to recognize and nurture their talent and enable them to reach their full potential.
Look out for early sign of potential
Children exhibit a lot of potential from an early age. Parents need to keenly observe their children and make a note of their abilities. Some children are gifted at speaking. For instance, they can describe something they did or thought in a very interesting manner. Such children may grow to become good orators. Children who sing well may grow to become a good singer, children good at sports can become a national athlete. By catching the signs of their potential early on, parents can encourage and nurture their child’s talent from a young age. The earlier the potential of children is discovered, the more time and opportunity they have to harness their talents.
Pay attention to their interests
Children love to play and do a lot of fun activities and they tend to be a lot more interested in some activities than others. We, as parents need to pay keen attention to what their real interests are and help them turn it into their passion. Their interests can be areas where they exhibit great potential and excel at, in future. Parents can guide their children by helping them identify their potential and give them the push or motivation that is required.
Provide plenty of opportunities to explore
Children need plenty of exposure to different kinds of activity to discover what they are good at. Unless a child is given a chance to explore he/ she will never find their passion. Many a time’s adults, end up in the wrong profession and are not happy doing what they do. At this point, they take the time to discover their true potential and pursue it. In order to help our children discover their potential early you need to give them plenty of opportunities to explore and find themselves, so that they are aware of their strengths and potential. Parents also need to provide or create opportunities for children to practice their talents. They can encourage them by enrolling them into extra- curricular clubs in schools, do fun activities together as a family or volunteer together in some social programs.
Encourage your child’s creativity
Parents need to take time to pay attention to the interests of their children and encourage their creativity. They should appreciate their small acts of creativity and motivate them to get better at it. Parents can also take part in doing some creative work with their children. This will not only be a great bonding experience between parents and children but will also show them that they care. This will greatly impact the way kids view themselves and will build their self-confidence.
Motivate them to pursue hobbies
Nowadays, children use most of their free time to watch TV or play video games. Hobbies have become a thing of the past. Parents need to encourage children to have hobbies. For example, encourage children to learn a musical instrument during their vacation or join a sports club or arts club. You can also think of enrolling them for painting classes or maybe even outdoor sports or languages classes as well. Hobbies can be a great way of unlocking a child’s potential.
Observe which academic area they love
Another way of discovering your child’s potential is to observe how your child fares in school. Some children may have a flare for mathematics, whereas others may have a flare for sciences or languages. Some children may fare better in sports or arts than academics. This can be a good guide to know the strengths of your child. Always acknowledge the strengths of your child and motivate them to do their best.
Don’t be too critical
Too much of criticism can curb your child’s talent. Sometimes parents are too curt when they share their opinion with their children. While it is important to share your views with your child, provide it in a constructive manner. Let there be a positive tone when you are giving a critical remark. Too much of criticism can discourage children and cause them to think that they are not good or not talented. This may further cause them to shut off from pursuing their talents. Therefore, parents need to be careful of the kind of feedback they give their children.
Conclusion
Interests of children may evolve and change as they grow. Some interests may die down whereas some may grow into great passions. Most successful people have one thing in common, they discover their passions early in life and pursue them. Parents and family play a vital role in harnessing the talent of children and helping them pursue their passions. The influence of parents can either break or build a child’s potential. Hence, if we want our children to reach their full potential we need to understand them and encourage them, instead of trying to force them to do something which is not their forte.
CONTACT US
FEATURES
8310600051
No.84/2 & 84/3, Monarch Serenity, I-100, Ground Floor, Thanisandra Main Rd, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560077
Blogs
Importance Of Education In Early Childhood
Early childhood is considered to be the most important phase of development. Preschool education helps in developing their social, physical and emotional self, lack of early education and care will lead to effect child’s physical as well as mental state.
Kids till the age of five need proper care and education, during this time lots of changes takes place in their behavior which will continue till their adults. Therefore, it is necessary to give proper attention to their educational journey.
Bring your little dreamer to ILM Pathway which is the top rated pre-school in Bangalore to build the bright future of your children.
Do Not Overreact To Lies
It is common for children of all ages to lie at some point in time as they grow. Children as small as 3-5 years old will make up stories and tell fantastic tales. As kids get older, they will lie to get out of trouble or to escape punishment.
Kids lying can be a tough time for any parent and you may tend to get frustrated or overwhelmed as a result of their lies. Sometimes, parents tend to overreact when children lie. When parents overreact and take it to heart, they tend to believe that children are not trustworthy. Parents may also wonder where they are going wrong in bringing up their child. This is a very ineffective method of dealing with children and of course will never help them change.
While it is hard to deal with lying, you need to understand that it is a normal part of growing up. When children lie, it means that they are trying to solve their problems in a way that they feel is the best for them. It does not mean that they are being dishonest or unreliable.
Children lie for different reasons depending upon their ages. Most often than not, children are more likely to lie fearing how you will respond to them. Here are some reasons why children lie.
They are unable to differentiate between reality and fantasy: Children between ages 3-5 have not yet developed a clear understanding of the difference between reality and fantasy. They will usually tell interesting tales and will insist that what they have imagined is the truth.
To escape consequences: Children from 7 onwards clearly distinguish truth from fantasy. They know what a truth is and what a lie is. They are also confused about lying to get out of trouble versus lying to protect someone. However, the most common reason for them lying is to escape punishment or avoid unpleasant consequences.
Because others do it: Children are great imitators and observers. Nothing escapes their keen sense of observation. If they notice that other children like their older siblings or adults around them are lying and getting away with things, chances are that they will also lie.
What can parents do?
To begin with, please do not be surprised or hurt to find your child lying. Instead, prepare yourself to handle this situation. Do not overreact.
Given below are some tips that you can use to help manage this situation.
Define acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour: Parents need to sit down with their child and explain both acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour. They need to explain to their child about the important of telling the truth and being honest. Also clearly explain that there will be consequences for lying and explain what those consequences will be.
Be consistent: While it does take a lot of effort, it is very important for you as parents to stay consistent. If your child lies, then follow up with consequences you have already told them about. This is an ideal way to let your child know that you mean what you say.
Lead by example: It is very simple, if you don’t lie in front of your children, you child will also not lie. Parents need to set an example by setting their own standards for lying. The first and foremost thing to do is to teach honesty at home. Remember, children raised in an honest environment also do lie at times, so when such a situation does occur, it is vital to remain calm. Remind yourself that these lies are not personal attacks on you as a parent, and hence do not react in anger. Instead, analyse the reasons as to why your child lied at that age and at that situation and respond accordingly.
Be available for your child: Parents need to examine themselves as well. Sit down and realistically ask yourself if there any reason why your child is not able to tell you the truth. Is your child scared of you or your punishment? While it is important to let your child know that lying is unacceptable, you also need to help your child understand that you are there for them. You need to explain that you love them and have their best interest in mind. They should feel comfortable sharing they fears, joys, and sorrows with you. The more comfortable they are with you, the more open and honest they will be with you.
Start early: Dealing with lying at an early stage is the most effective way of dealing with it and preventing it from becoming a far more serious issue. Do not wait until your child lies, instead start speaking to them about the importance of being truthful and the results it may produce.
When should parents worry about their child lying?
Parents should worry if your child is lying frequently and consistently. If your child is found to be repeatedly lying, then both the parents and child should consider approaching a child psychologist or a counsellor.
Children with conditions like Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disease (ADHD) may find it difficult to stop lying. Children who may be under substance abuse may also take up lying to cover their guilt or shame.
Understand that kids lying is not a serious problem in general. Yes it does become a menace when lying turns out to be habitual. Therefore, come up with a strategy to deal with this issue. Plan ahead on how you will deal with your child when he or she is caught lying. Also, as much as possible, try to stay calm and neutral to encourage them to speak the truth. By being very harsh, you may end up building a big barrier between you and your children and they may never open up to you.
Finally, the most important point to remember is that your actions and style of speaking the truth are the right ways to teach your child in being truthful.
Good luck and happy parenting!
How to say no to kids
It can be difficult to say “No” to your kids. Kids will often try to manipulate or negotiate till they get what they want.
Disciplining a child is very tough indeed. However, by not disciplining your child, and by being far too lenient with them, they can grow into a dependent person with an extremely low self-esteem. So it is well worth saying “No” to them when you should and let your child grow into a balanced personality.
You’ve perhaps experienced the scenario many times when everything’s been going well for you as a family until your kid wants to do something you don’t approve of. You say ‘no’ to it and your child bawls out loud, hoping to convert your ‘no’ into an ‘ok, just this time.’
Are there ways and times when you should say no? Most definitely so. There are many ways of showing your displeasure.
Given below are a few ways of saying “No” to your kids.
Say it once and say it firmly: When you say ‘no’ the first time to your child, say it firmly so that they understand that you don’t like what they want. Look serious and tell them why you don’t approve of what they want.
Explain why not: These days, children can’t accept a ‘no’ without sufficient reason, so go ahead and give it to them. Tell your kid why he or she cannot do what you don’t approve of.
Change your ‘no’ around: Combine a yes and a no so that your child doesn’t feel that you never give him what he wants. For instance, if they want a drink, say, “Sure, you can have a drink, but only with dinner.” So, if dinner is still some time away, they will have to wait for it.
Don’t yell at your kid: Experts say that when parents yell at their kids, it could lead to problems of emotional development and behaviour. Besides, children can feel depressed and have low self-esteem due to this. So, speak with your child in a friendly and calm manner.
Don’t embarrass your child in public: If your child seeks your permission for something with a gang of friends, don’t say ‘no’ outright or they might feel snubbed and small. Reason it out with them and try to meet them half-way.
Don’t be vague with your child: If your child wants something now or wants to do something now, don’t put off their request with, “Not now, maybe a little later.” After saying this, if you don’t stand by your word, your child may never trust you. Instead of granting their wish “a little later”, tell them to wait for their birthday, or after their exams are over so that they have a concrete idea of the time they need to wait it out.
Don’t take all the decisions: As your child grows, they will want to take some decisions, particularly as they get used to the taste of certain foods and sweets, or a new toy they have seen on TV or an electronic item everyone’s talking about. Besides, giving them the power to take one’s decision will make them feel that you value their opinion and they will feel loved. You can also do this when you’re shopping at the store. Pick a few things your child likes for breakfast and ask them to choose anyone. Pick that one just for them to eat and make them feel special.
Go with your spouse’s decision: Often, when your child asks for something, like permission to stay over at a friend’s place, it is common for your spouse to say ‘yes’ to it and you ‘no.’ This confuses your child and teaches the little one that they can get what they want from the other parent, if not you. So, decide together when it comes to your child, or go ahead blindly with your spouse’s decision.
Give your child a choice: If your kid says, “Let me watch a little more TV.” Your reply can be: “You’ve already seen your favourite show. Now, get into bed and let me read you a story.”
Tell your child what you want him or her to do with a positive tone: Say, “Come, let’s put away all your toys in that bright blue box” instead of, “No, you’re not going to leave your toys all over the room.”
Tell your child why: According to studies, if you reason with your child, citing reasons for what you want from them, they may agree to you. For example: “Crumpling the newspaper isn’t a good idea. Instead, why don’t we use to make a paper bag?”
Conclusion:
Saying no to your child can be hard. However, disciplining your child is important for your child’s overall well-being and happiness. As a parent, you must help your child build the skills they will need to manage when someone tells them “No”.
Children - Focusing Abilities
Some kids are born with focusing abilities but for some it is difficult or they feel bored, whether in studies or in any extra-curricular activities. To overcome this they can learn and engage in practices that help them in concentrating. As children are born learners, despite of having individual differences they explore and learn with eagerness and curiosity.
But this has to be taken care by you as a parent because learning is not just limited to schools, it is their environment and people around them that has major influence on their behavior.
Therefore more than any other time of life, early childhood is a period of never ending possibilities.
Reason why ILM Pathway promote not only textbook learning but it also provide problem solving, critical thinking and creative skills. That help them in focusing and building self-confidence.
Visit our center today and let us help you to prepare your little dreamer for formal schooling.
Rewarding Little Ones For Good Behaviour
A reward is a result a child receives when he or she behaves well. It is a nice way of saying “well done” or “good job” when your child has behaved in a pleasing way. A reward could be in the form of saying something positive or giving your child an ice cream or a surprise treat or granting an extra benefit like allowing your child to choose a special meal for lunch or dinner.
When you appreciate your child for his or her good behavior with a reward, your child tends to repeat the good behavior many times over.
Rewards vs. bribe
Some people tend to think that children being rewarded, and bribing are the same. However, parents must always remember that rewards and bribes are not the same at all. Let us look at the difference between a reward and a bribe.
A reward is given because of good behavior
A bribe is offered before your see the result of a good behavior
Advantages and disadvantages of rewarding your child for good behavior
It is very difficult to debate if rewarding children’s behavior is good due to varied opinions of people. While there is no right or wrong answer, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that when parents praise and reward their children, the children tend to behave better.
Rewarding a child for good behavior sends out a positive signal in your child’s mind that what they are doing is good and acceptable. Thereby, you encourage your child to behave well in the future too.
Another thought is that children follow rules better if a reward system is introduced to them. This system is a good way to make your children work harder or better to achieve as many rewards as possible. This practice will in fact help them get ready for adulthood as they are aware by then that there are guidelines to follow in life.
However, parents should be careful of over rewarding their kids. Some experts suggest that excessive rewarding of good behavior can erase a child’s natural quality of helping others.
Tips on rewarding your child for good behavior
As parents, you should teach your children the difference between good and bad behavior. The only and best way to teach or educate them is to be a role model in exhibiting good behavior.
Let us look at a few ways to help and encourage good behavior in your children:
-
Verbally acknowledge good behavior. Speak about it aloud to your child when you feel good about what your child did.
-
Use encouraging words more than criticizing words.
-
Look for opportunities to appreciate your children or to bring about a change in them.
-
Accept that every child is different and that they come with their unique strengths and abilities. Learn to appreciate the uniqueness of your child.
-
Try appreciating your child’s efforts for trying hard in achieving things.
-
Reward your child for his or her good behavior. However, be careful not to overdo it otherwise your child may expect you to reward him/her every time they do something good.
As parents offer your children social or material rewards to show your appreciation towards their good behavior. Some methods of rewarding are:
-
Shower your child with affection – sometimes all it takes is a nice big hug or a few words of encouragement such as ‘good job’ to make your child happy.
-
Take your child out for a special activity or outing
-
Make them their favorite meal or dessert
-
Permit your child to play or spend extra time with his/her friends
-
Gift them something that they have been asking for a while
-
Grant extra time to your child in carrying out his or her hobby
-
Grant them extra play time
-
Reward your child with a little extra pocket money
Conclusion
Everybody, be it an adult or a child can benefit greatly from being rewarded for a good job. As parents, how you choose to reward your child is a matter of your personal choice. Please remember that there is no right or wrong way of rewarding. Like every method in parenting, what works for one parent may not work for another parent. It would be useful to discuss or exchange ideas with other parents and see what works for them in dealing with their children.
But do remember, there must be a proper balance between rewarding and punishing your child to allow them to develop into responsible adults.
Good luck and happy parenting!
Unique Child Unique Potential
Each child is unique and special. All children are gifted with a unique set of talents and potential, in which they may shine and excel. Every child is distinctly talented and no two children can or should be compared. They are blessed with their own special individuality. Most often, parents fail to recognize these abilities in their children and push them into something which is not their forte. As parents, we are anxious about the well-being of our children. We want the best for our children and desire that they be successful and happy in life. Many parents have a very rigid outlook on life, where they consider a person being successful only if have a standard job, such as, a doctor, an engineer, a banker or a teacher. They are unable to see that there are many more areas where their child may excel and be the best at. To help our children be happy and successful we need to embrace their individuality and recognize their abilities.
Children are full of potential and when they are given the right opportunities they blossom into wonderful individuals. It is the responsibility of parents to recognize and nurture their talent and enable them to reach their full potential.
Look out for early sign of potential
Children exhibit a lot of potential from an early age. Parents need to keenly observe their children and make a note of their abilities. Some children are gifted at speaking. For instance, they can describe something they did or thought in a very interesting manner. Such children may grow to become good orators. Children who sing well may grow to become a good singer, children good at sports can become a national athlete. By catching the signs of their potential early on, parents can encourage and nurture their child’s talent from a young age. The earlier the potential of children is discovered, the more time and opportunity they have to harness their talents.
Pay attention to their interests
Children love to play and do a lot of fun activities and they tend to be a lot more interested in some activities than others. We, as parents need to pay keen attention to what their real interests are and help them turn it into their passion. Their interests can be areas where they exhibit great potential and excel at, in future. Parents can guide their children by helping them identify their potential and give them the push or motivation that is required.
Provide plenty of opportunities to explore
Children need plenty of exposure to different kinds of activity to discover what they are good at. Unless a child is given a chance to explore he/ she will never find their passion. Many a time’s adults, end up in the wrong profession and are not happy doing what they do. At this point, they take the time to discover their true potential and pursue it. In order to help our children discover their potential early you need to give them plenty of opportunities to explore and find themselves, so that they are aware of their strengths and potential. Parents also need to provide or create opportunities for children to practice their talents. They can encourage them by enrolling them into extra- curricular clubs in schools, do fun activities together as a family or volunteer together in some social programs.
Encourage your child’s creativity
Parents need to take time to pay attention to the interests of their children and encourage their creativity. They should appreciate their small acts of creativity and motivate them to get better at it. Parents can also take part in doing some creative work with their children. This will not only be a great bonding experience between parents and children but will also show them that they care. This will greatly impact the way kids view themselves and will build their self-confidence.
Motivate them to pursue hobbies
Nowadays, children use most of their free time to watch TV or play video games. Hobbies have become a thing of the past. Parents need to encourage children to have hobbies. For example, encourage children to learn a musical instrument during their vacation or join a sports club or arts club. You can also think of enrolling them for painting classes or maybe even outdoor sports or languages classes as well. Hobbies can be a great way of unlocking a child’s potential.
Observe which academic area they love
Another way of discovering your child’s potential is to observe how your child fares in school. Some children may have a flare for mathematics, whereas others may have a flare for sciences or languages. Some children may fare better in sports or arts than academics. This can be a good guide to know the strengths of your child. Always acknowledge the strengths of your child and motivate them to do their best.
Don’t be too critical
Too much of criticism can curb your child’s talent. Sometimes parents are too curt when they share their opinion with their children. While it is important to share your views with your child, provide it in a constructive manner. Let there be a positive tone when you are giving a critical remark. Too much of criticism can discourage children and cause them to think that they are not good or not talented. This may further cause them to shut off from pursuing their talents. Therefore, parents need to be careful of the kind of feedback they give their children.
Conclusion
Interests of children may evolve and change as they grow. Some interests may die down whereas some may grow into great passions. Most successful people have one thing in common, they discover their passions early in life and pursue them. Parents and family play a vital role in harnessing the talent of children and helping them pursue their passions. The influence of parents can either break or build a child’s potential. Hence, if we want our children to reach their full potential we need to understand them and encourage them, instead of trying to force them to do something which is not their forte.
CONTACT US
FEATURES
8310600051
No.84/2 & 84/3, Monarch Serenity, I-100, Ground Floor, Thanisandra Main Rd, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560077