Every parent can relate to staying up late at night, worrying about how to raise their kids into genuinely good people. They’re concerned about their happiness and problems from the moment they are born. But there is neither a recipe nor a trick on how to raise good kids. Rest assured raising good kids requires that you’re always there to support your kid every step of the way.
Mind it; you will need to put in a ton of effort to nurture your children. Here are five reliable ways to follow on how to raise good kids:
Top 5 Tips to Raise Happy Kids
1. Spend Quality Time With Your Children to make them good kids:
Parents love their kids the most in the world. Here are our raising good kids 101 guides! Firstly, spend quality time with them. It nurtures them as kind-hearted and cheerful kids with lovely childhood memories.
Your physical and emotional support are both essential in building an unbreakable bond with your children. Quality time with kids has one significant rule. You need to focus on interacting with them solely. It requires getting rid of all the distractions like business calls.
Clear out your schedule to hang out with them. Not only will your kids love you more, but also they will learn to care, be considerate, and devote time to loved ones. They will know that you’re a reliable and trustworthy parent to confide in their secrets if need be.
Furthermore, always lend your kids a listening ear, and they may do the same for someone in need in the future. Ask them about what’s happening in their lives. Celebrate their achievements, have meals together, learn about their favorite things, their problems, etc. Let them communicate openly and strengthen your bond with them.
You may not always be present or as involved in their lives with all your other responsibilities. But you should always make sure to grab any chance to spend quality time with your little angels.
2. Be A Positive Mentor to raise Good Kids:
My mom always tells me, watching my happiness and success makes her happy, which goes the same for me. It’s a two-way process. It may sound selfish but try always to remain satisfied for the sake of your children. They look up to you and follow in your footsteps, i.e., imitate your actions, especially in childhood. And I can prove it! Psychologists, Carolyn, and Philip Cowan, in their research, found that happy parents are more likely to have happy kids.
Your temper, voice tone, and manners affect your child’s personality growth, success, behavior, and happiness. Your children may exhibit behavior problems like acting out, screaming, being moody, stressed out, etc. It happens when they find you lashing out, beating, depressed, or in any other negative direct or indirect interactions.
As a parent, you should be strong moral support and a role model to your children. Praise your kids for their efforts more than success. It builds a kind nature of never giving up without trying.
Metaphorically, you’re their ladder. For your children to successfully climb to the top as great people, each ladder step must be firm and hold their weight. That is why you must practice acts of:
- Honesty
- Humility
- Compassion
- Being considerate to others
- Admit to faults
- Offer apologies
- Show gratitude
- Trust and respect others
Watching your manners will inspire them to develop similar traits, carry out good deeds, and treat others with passion. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
3. Motivate Your Kids For Volunteer Causes:
Raising successful and happy kids demands instilling a habit of helping people without expecting anything in return. Your children will transfer these little childhood lessons to your grandchildren. Additionally, it will ensure kids strive and develop to be of excellent service to the community.
Encourage your children to volunteer for charity works like handing out outgrown clothes, food, helping animals, etc. In addition, they must learn that the happiness and proud feeling, which comes by lending a helping hand to a helpless person is the sweetest reward in-itself.
Aside from it, charity work opens their eyes to the sufferings of the unfortunate people in society. It gives their lives meaning at a young age and establishes a sense of responsibility and passion for kind acts. We all agree; it is a noteworthy trait to cultivate in good kids.
Dr. L.B. Akin finds in his research, “before the age of two, toddlers exhibit greater happiness when giving treats to others than receiving treats themselves. Further, children are happier after engaging in costly giving – forfeiting their own resources – than when giving the same treat at no cost.”
4. Cultivate Ethical Responsibilities In Your Children:
Ethical responsibilities touch on acts of helping, rewarding, gratitude, empathy, kindness, passion, etc. Society deems these acts necessary in every kind of adult and good kids.
A spoiled brat does not appreciate others. As such, they will be unable to build healthy relationships later on in life.
Teach your kids to acknowledge the role of friends and family relationships in their lives. Jack Shonkoff & Deborah Philips, in their findings, state that healthy relationships are critical to the psychological well-being and growth of good kids.
Your kids will benefit from having strong socializing skills. Being neglected by others can cause chronic stress at an early age and may lead them down the wrong road. Teach your child to show gratitude, never break a promise, and care for others. Remind them of their high ethical expectations.
Before doing any of that, you need to show compassion toward them. Children must know how it feels to be cared for and appreciated. Actions speak louder than words; dole out acts of comfort such as hugs and kisses to make them feel secure.
Moreover, celebrate, honor, and reward their commitments. It will do wonders for their self-esteem and happiness, encouraging them to treat others equally. And they will not avoid their responsibilities toward others.
You need to make your kids understand that other people share the same struggles. Sharing is caring! Show your kids acts of love, passion, and share a little of your vulnerabilities. Also, help them with their insecurities. It will bring all of you closer as a family.
5. Set Ground Rules:
What difference does it make between a good kid and a spoiled kid? ‘Discipline’ is a vital trait in good kids. Do not be too hard on your children; they will not listen to you eventually.
Cultivating a certain amount of discipline at an early age can turn into a habit. Moreover, it helps children to differentiate right from wrong and builds a healthy conscience. It also demands respect since leaving them unchecked to follow their own rules will be counterproductive in the future. They will turn out to be selfish, unpleasant, and surprisingly unhappy.
Furthermore, set ground rules like saving time, studying hours, playing hours, no lying, backtalk, etc. for your children. And these rules show your concern and care about their actions. It also avoids them from feeling neglected sometimes.
Discipline them in common courtesy. Teach kids polite and humble greeting manners, good table manners, and behave by following rules of different premises. Moreover, disciplined children are more liable to carry out duties and responsibilities effectively. They understand the harm; mistakes can cause to people close to them. Apart from that, they are more trustworthy and reliable because they abide by a strong moral code.
Final Words
Parenting is challenging; it takes time, and mistakes can happen. Begin with baby steps, and before you know it, you will have to build a strong bond with your kids. So, be patient and give it your best. With the above five trustworthy ways, you will surely be the world’s most exceptional parent.
