Parenting is a tall order. The responsibility of raising children to be self-sustaining adults can be an overwhelming and near impossible process. However, there are a few universal lessons every parent should teach their children. These four habits last a lifetime and can contribute to your child’s overall success.
Saying Thank You
Saying “thank you” is not only a lesson in good manners, but it can also improve the overall well-being of your child. Gratitude is trending in the health and wellness industry as research suggests regularly expressing gratitude reduces stress, curbs anxiety, and has an overall positive impact on a person’s general welfare. Clearly, “thank you” is a lesson you don’t want to skip!
Oral Hygiene
Brushing your teeth is a lesson that must be learned early on. Dentists recommend brushing at least twice per day and always before bed. Plaque can quickly build up and lead to tooth decay if oral hygiene is not a priority. Parents can work with their kids on brushing properly and for the correct amount of time. There are a variety of games and songs that can assist with process making tooth brushing a fun learning process.
Making the Bed
Making your bed has a surprisingly strong impact on emotional health. Rituals like this are a great way of providing structure in an otherwise chaotic world. The ability to exercise control has a positive impact psychologically and enables children to manage their own day. Additionally, a daily routine where you make your bed promotes better sleep. A clean room in general symbolizes respect and sends the message that the home is a place of peace and comfort. This has huge psychological ramifications.
Reading Often
There’s a good reason why teaching our children how to read is one of the first things we do. Reading is a critical skill for navigating and interacting with today’s world. But making sure to build your child’s reading fluency and helping them take joy in reading is about more than making sure they’ll be competent adults. Reading expands a child’s vocabulary, expands their understanding of the world and how it works, and makes them more self-sufficient and self-confident. Studies even indicate that early reading skills — and reading often — closely correlates with future success. Nurture a love of reading in your child by reading with them from birth. Make sure their school has a strong reading curriculum. And et them see you reading, because children learn by example.
Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands is a definite lesson that must be learned at an early age. However, rinsing your hands under water isn’t enough. Children should understand how germs manifest and should be trained in ways to curb the spread of these microbes. Doctors recommend scrubbing for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap. Children are especially susceptible to germs and should get in the habit of washing to avoid illness.
Being Active
Teaching your child how to be active and how to exercise consistently is best done by example. If you set aside time for you and your child to do fun activities that involve a lot of movement and exercise then they will stand a better chance of preventing heart disease, cancer and stroke in later years. This habit of being active will also be a step in the right direction to maintaining a healthy lifestyle when they are living on their own. By helping your child develop the habit of being active, you are setting them up to learn how to succeed in their lives.
Organization
Adulthood means you have to keep track of various happenings in your life. From your bills to appointments to your job, you need to know what’s going on. This is going to be critical for your children to learn early, so they don’t have to struggle too much when they transition to adults. You can give them examples by helping them manage the household’s multiple insurances. According to Murfreesboro Insurance Solutions, many people have multiple personal insurances such as mortgage insurance, car insurance, health insurance, flood insurance, and more depending on a family’s circumstances. Help yourself and your children out by teaching them more about what type of organization it takes to monitor and keep all of those insurances in check.
These are just a few of the many important lessons you can teach your child. Grasping good habits at a young age ensures your child will carry these tips with them throughout a lifetime. Of course, you must practice what you preach. Make sure you set an example for your child by doing these tasks on a regular basis. You’ll need to be sure to organize these tasks (and other chores as well!) and we have the perfect service for this – so be sure to check it out!
(Image Courtesy of Hampton Gentle Dental)
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