MagnusMendax, (edited )
MagnusMendax avatar

Here are a couple of random pieces of advice that I have:

  1. Don't automatically limit your children because you have an initial inclination that they are too young. Obviously there are exceptions--your three-year-old is probably not ready for base jumping. What I mean is for mostly mental, emotional, and social treatment. Talk to your school-age children like they are adults. Use big words and explain what they mean. If your four-year-old wants to try piano lessons, don't immediately shut down the idea. If your kids will sit down and listen to chapter books when they're three, read it to them. My currently eight-year-old daughter will wake up early sometimes and make the family scrambled eggs for breakfast because I've been showing her how to cook since she was able to sit on the counter next to me. When my daughter was four, I got her involved in a pre-school program through a laptop. Her two-year-old brother wanted to do it, too. I asked the provider to make him an account and they were happy to do so without any additional charge. Despite his age, it was hugely beneficial for his development. When my children ask how things work, I explain it to them in greater detail than I think they will understand and try to simplify it as I go. I think our children are limited because we artificially limit them based on what we think they can handle.

  2. Don't be afraid to make your kids try something at least once. I get my kids involved in the same things at the same time and it's given them the opportunity to settle more in areas they care about. My son has tried arts, music, and sports and, in the process, discovered his love for competitive team sports and his hatred for gymnastics. My daughter tried all the other things and developed her talent for art and music. I don't make them stay in the activities they don't enjoy, but I think they'll be glad that they tried them for themselves.

  3. Start out feeding children what you eat. My toddler-children loved to eat crab, thai, sushi, and veggies because I didn't treat them like anything weird. They are more picky now, but it was very helpful at the time to prepare one meal that even the infants ate. I recognize that I lucked out in this regard, but I really do think it helped that I didn't prepare them chicken nuggets and mac and cheese while I ate something else. Only after they discovered the other food did they get more picky.

  4. Help your kids find the answers to problems themselves. If you solve all your children's problems, they won't be able to solve them on their own if you're not around. They will get frustrated, but guide them rather than solve for them. Each child will be different in the amount of guidance that they need, but giving them the answer outright will hinder them later in life.

  5. Apologize to your children when you make mistakes. Tell them you're sorry and don't excuse yourself. If something or someone was harmed by your actions, tell them what you are going to do to fix the problem. This is not weakness. This is showing your children how to be a responsible adult.

  6. Read to your children every day and eat dinner together at the table every day. These two habits are directly correlated with success later in life.

MagnusMendax,
MagnusMendax avatar

Check out the comments over at https://kbin.social/m/chat/t/15092 for some good community input.

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