Be a potter –mold your child to be an achiever

Parenting is not about just providing; it is much deeper than that. As a parent you will be worried about your child’s well being as well as his future. The aim of most parents is to raise a happy, intelligent , and fulfilled child - a child that is secure, confident, and independent.

The Circle of Love

Love is known to be a panacea for just about everything. And children, more than adults thrive with under love and care. You will be surprised to know that a large number of children who have high IQs and are brainy come from loving stress - free homes. Educators find that secure and well-loved children perform better in school than children from broken homes or stress - filled homes.

So, get ready to give umpteen hugs and kisses. Run with your child, hold its his hand without an excuse, play ball, get down on all fours and have a race with your toddler. Interact at all levels and times.

Give children time to “stand and stare” to watch the leaves rustle, to lie beneath a tree, romp the woods, or hum while sitting in a pond or stream. Kids need to savor life and not rush around with a full schedule like loonies adults. Classrooms and special courses do not create geniuses. The freedom to innovate and paus ing e to think does. So be flexible, mix work with play and try not to force your ideas or choices on the child.

Laughter frees fetters and blows away cobwebs from the mind. Let the kids giggle their heart out even at simple things like a fat man, split ketchup spilt, or someone farting. Tickle the kids until they laugh themselves silly, surprise them by making faces at the greens on your plate, play make - believe farm and imitate the animals. Take the kids to “pet them zoo day.” the zoo to pet the animals. Introduce them to comics and comedy. Laugh ter, as you will notice, will s wipe away disappointments and fears.

While discipline is essential it should not be military. Be flexible and remember to praise a child when it he does something well or helps you do jobs around the house. Share work with the kids. Make cookies together, or wash and dry dishes, or walk around the house gathering the wash—these simple tasks are when you can share thoughts and ideas. Encourage the child to speak to you and confide in you. Try not to say ‘this is a stupid idea ’ or ‘you are silly ’. Listen to the child at its level.

Learning and other skills must match the abilities of the child. So, you must find a comfortable level for your child. Any developmental chart is prepared based on a random selection or study of a specific group of children. Remember there are kids who are hares and others who are tortoises ---but the latter se do catch up as well.

So, quit fretting and set achievable goals and above all just accept your child for what he or she is. Some kids are creative, others are scientists and engineers, just as nature has variety so do humans. Nurture your child in the field of his choice and interest, because that is where he or she will flourish.

A child is like a clean slate and it is up to you, the parent and guru, what is etched on the slate. So, sing songs, read to the child, share your love and give the child tender loving care. Hold the child within the warmth of your love.

Ensure that the child eats well and exercises.

The Golden Keys to a Rosy Future

Just as computer games have cheat codes , parents can benefit and succeed by just knowing what happens when, in a child’s life and what parents must be prepared to do at each stage. Don’t be afraid, the mysteries of bringing up a child are not deep and dark. Simple everyday actions must be done with patience and care – it is all that’s required.

Nurturing a child begins in the womb and continues for a lifetime. When in the womb it is important to give good medical care, eat nutritious food, be happy, listen to music, and talk to the child. Research has proven that babies in womb listen and respond. So, avoid stress, fights, and anything that brings on misery and sadness. Avoid drugs, substance abuse, alcohol, and tobacco –these are harmful and affect the child. Welcome the child into your life like you would a treasure or boon.

A child responds and absorbs things from the minute it is born. So, insist on the child remaining with you and not in the nursery. The closeness and warmth a child receives from its mother, the constant contact, and love, benefits the baby and give s him it a head start in life. Plan to breastfeed the baby for as long as you can --- breastfed babies develop well and are known to succeed in all fields of endeavor.

When an infant , communicate with the child as much as possible. Hold it him in your arms, rock it him to sleep, talk to it him, sing songs, and play music. Stay attuned to the child. If English is not your native language, be sure to talk to your child in your mother tongue as well as English. Babies are like sponges - they absorb a lot and many become bi-lingual without any difficulty.

When the child is of pre-kindergarten to third grade age , you will find rapid changes. The kid will have huge amounts of energy, will love fantasies, seek attention constantly, and become rocket propelled. This is when you will need to listen to the child attentively, encourage and appreciate activities, introduce interesting toys, use positive reinforcement, nurture independence, and extend lots of love and understanding.

When the child reaches the age group of 4 th -6 th grade, you will find that things have changed. The child who depended on you for so many things will have found his or her own feet. You will be amazed at the show of independence and shouldering of responsibility. This is when you need to keep your eyes and ears open. Children are prone to peer pressure and to the influences of people stronger natured than themselves. On the other hand you will be amazed at the extent of their new ventures and interests.

Everyday will be a new day with new choices and demands. You need to be there but invisible. This is when parents become a part of wall decoration. Please give the child a bit of room to grow and flower and set aside your anxieties. You need to befriend the child and abandon to some extent your role as leader/decision maker.

Encourage independence, instill a routine, teach nothing is life is free, set goals, listen to the child when he talks about his interests and decisions, if need be guide him or her. Never assign responsibilities based on sex, allow the children to choose computer games, C D ds, and DVDs freely, do not stereotype-- treat both sexes equally. At this stage you and the child will benefit if you join the school’s career education programs and other activities.

The next stage 7 th -8 th grade is a difficult one and can be quite testing. Here the child will be undergoing substantial physical changes, which means hormonal surges and mood swings. And, this means lots of understanding and patience needs to be extended by you. Treat your child as an equal and appreciate his or her achievements and thoughts even if they are not in synchrony with yours.

Find time to discuss skills, interests, and goals. Understand the ideas the child has formed. Introduce the child to future options in terms of career and education. Let the kid go on field trips and to interviews and workshops. Teach the child money management and introduce the concept of working part-time away from home –this will set the child on its feet and give a glimpse of how the world functions outside home.

If you have “parented” well then by the time your child reaches high school he or she will be a secure, confident, and happy young adult. With a definite sense of purpose and self-identity the child will make career choices, be socially responsible, be stable emotionally, and be comfortable physically. This is when you need to undo the reins and step aside to a great extent. Treat the child as an individual, love him or her but not smother. It is hard to let go but young adults need space and individuality. Celebrate the efforts you have made at parenting.

Choosing Smart

Technology is a part of the life of children today. And right from being a toddler kids are introduced to computers and all the interactive systems that come with it. The choices in the market are more than a zillion. So, you must choose smartly what will benefit your child greatly and what won’t.

Interactive CDs and other software produced by educators like Smart Neurons use play and advanced graphics, music, and imagination to hone skills like language, math, dexterity, and higher thinking in kids. Play thus becomes a great learning experience.

The toys are designed to spark interest and creativity in the child. They have open-ended options, which mean the child must make logical choices in order for the game to proceed. This initiates unconsciously, concentration, absorption of facts, and abiding interest. The toys develop skills like hand-eye co-ordination, verbal and written communication, patience, and the ability to follow and understand instructions.

Choose a toy after considering what interests your child, his or her age, and strengths and as well as weaknesses. Make intelligent choices and be sure to read the instructions thoroughly. Ask questions that come to your mind before making a purchase and be a smart shopper, find out from other users about their experience with the toys.

Parenting is a bit like “playing god” or becoming his assistant. You first protect and nurture and then undo the reins of control and revel in your creation.

Author Information:

Article was contributed by Smart Neurons www.smartneurons.com . Smart Neurons offers kids’ educational software, video and other educational aids. Our products encourage critical thinking, imagination and leadership skills and are targeted to enhance a child’s educational experience. Children are encouraged to explore the world around them through fun and engaging activities. Through our products and software, Preschool children use their observations to expand their understanding of the world and develop their ability to express themselves.