Tell a Friend

From:

Your Name
Your Email Address

To:

Subject	I saw this and thought you might find it interesting.
Friend Email Address
Friend Email Address
Friend Email Address
Friend Email Address
Friend Email Address
Friend Message
	Enter Word Verification in box below

Sometimes parents can be tempted to smother their child by doing everything for them.  This can not only frustrate the child but it can also hurt the child’s self confidence.

Children need rules, discipline and responsibilities to prepare them for life.  The best time to introduce rules, discipline and responsibility is when your child is still very young. Ensure your rules are age related and are rules that your child can clearly understand.

Rules can be as simple as putting toys away when finished playing.  Putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket or hanging up school uniforms.  Responsibility can begin with teaching your child that if they borrow something from someone they should make sure they give it back.  When reading books they take care in turning the pages, if he/she makes a mess they clean it up.

Having a dog as a pet is an excellent way of teaching your child responsibility.  The child learns to feed, bath, take the dog for a walk and shower the dog with love.  Giving your child a sense of responsibility empowers him/her and prepares him/her for greater responsibilities as he/she grows up.

Allowing your child to make choices also teaches them responsibility.  Obviously the younger the child the fewer the choices they should be given. Simple choices you can give your young child are:

Breakfast  -  What would you like for breakfast toast or cereal?

Lunch  -   What would you like cheese or vegemite on your sandwich?

Bedtime -   Which pyjamas do you want to wear tonight the blue stripe or the blue poker dot?

By giving your child these simple choices you teach him/her to be responsible for what they get for the choices they make.