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We all want
responsible, caring, healthy, happy children. Add any number of positive
adjectives to the list, and we want it for our kids. The job of raising highly
conscious children is not always an easy one. Here are some ways in which your
family can progress in the area of consciousness-raising.
Responsibility
It starts with the small things. Finding age-appropriate tasks your child can do
will add to his sense of responsibility to pull his weight in the family unit. A
two-year-old can generally put away his own plate once he has finished a meal. A
one-year-old cannot.
A five-year-old can pick up his toys before bedtime and put his pajamas away in
the morning. Make these simple tasks routine for your children. If you do, they
won’t think twice when you ask them to take out the trash when they are older.
Compassion
You don’t have to be Buddha to teach your child compassion. While your oldest
child may not feel much compassion for his younger brother who breaks his block
towers or favorite toys, you might want to start out with animals as an example.
Getting a household pet is one way to teach your child about responsibility and
compassion. You might not be ready for that commitment, so here are some other
ways to achieve the same thing.
If you see a ladybug, have your child hold it and talk about respect for all
living things. Encourage your child to make a nest for the ladybug and to care
for it. My children started a snail farm for a time. After they were finished
with the activity, they carefully placed the snails back into the grass. Through
this exercise, they learned snails live in a different environment than they do,
but they could still “convene” with them for a short time.
If your child treats
another unfairly, ask him or her how it might feel to be treated that way, too.
A simple sentence such as “How would that make you feel?” can go a long way in
teaching your child about respecting others.
Decision-Making
Put your children in situations where they can decide which way things will go.
Giving two-year-olds choices, for instance, has several benefits. First, you are
avoiding a tantrum by allowing them to decide between carrot sticks or an apple
for their snack. Second, you are guiding them to make wise choices by offering
them healthy alternatives.
As your child grows,
expand the areas of choice. To avoid unnecessary battles at bedtime, for
instance, ask your child if he or she wants to brush teeth now or in five
minutes. Either way, the goal of brushing teeth is clear.
Set Boundaries
Building a strong decision-maker does not mean being permissive. Allowing
your toddler to eat chocolate every day for breakfast may not be the right
choice. Setting boundaries and allowing them freedom within those boundaries
will aide their self-esteem and sense of security. Children like to know what to
expect. Boundaries are the guidelines by which they can live.
As with the example
above, asking the child whether he or she wants to brush teeth immediately or
after the timer goes off offers choice within a specified boundary. It reduces
the amount of balking your child does and takes the pressure off your shoulders,
too.
Ask Questions
Asking your child questions about the choices they make (and then listening to
the answers) gets them to think critically about their own behavior. While their
standard answer might be “I don’t know,” it will give them cause to assess what
just happened. Trying to slice her younger brother with a pair of scissors may
have been my daughter’s impulsive reaction to her pesky three-year-old sibling.
Asking her why she chose to do it allowed her to think about her actions, even
after the fact.
Goal-Setting
Birthdays are great mile markers for your children to take on a bit more
responsibility. Sit down with the birthday boy or girl and ask him or her
questions about what they would like to do this year. Have your child write down
some goals such as learning to swim, ride a bike, or to drive. Make a list of
family goals you might share. Developing such skills early on will help your
child gain the confidence he or she needs for the future. At the same time, you
will gain the satisfaction that you have laid the essential groundwork for years
to come.
Christine Louise
Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a
Mother (2003), SAHM I Am: Tales
of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe (2005), lives near Munich, Germany,
with her family. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter for empowered parents at:
www.diaryofamother.com.
