13 Ways That Can Help Us Raise Well-Adjusted Children

Nowadays, most children are lazy, have bad manners, and are even narcissistic. Parents are worried about them, so they end up reading many articles to find the answer to their questions “What should I do?” “What is the right thing to do?” and so on.

It is really bad that many parents are afraid of modern parenting, so they end up doing nothing, turning the TV on and hiding from the real world. However, if you are a parent, you should do something.

You can make a change if you try. You should build a foundation for appreciation, responsibility, kindness, warmth, generosity, hard work, etc., your kid needs.

Since children are not aware of these things, they cannot do anything without their parents making a change. So, as parents, you need to start the cycle of change. In this article, we offer you thirteen ways in which you can raise a good child.

1. Setting Boundaries

This is really hard to be done because kids tend to scream, threaten, push back, etc., but it is important. Keep in mind that when a child says something like “I hate you,” it is their way to meet their needs.

It can take time before a child accepts the boundaries you are setting. When it begins screaming or pushing back, it is the first step towards acceptance. Keep in mind that boundaries are walls, not doors. They will help your kid thrive.

2. Setting Routines

It is very important to teach your child how to interact with other people and be a friend. Also, it is essential for your child to learn self-control. Find ways in which you can teach your kid routines.

If your kid is strong-willed, routines will be helpful because they make children feel a sense of control.

3. Bedtime Matters

We all need sleep, especially children. When we sleep, we allow ourselves to get healthy brain development, process what happened during the day, and learn from it. Since today kids are preoccupied with school and many other activities, they need a lot of sleep.

The best thing you can do about your children is to help them to get the needed amount of sleep.

4. Teach Them Empathy

According to research, empathy helps children to be happy and successful. Even though they are born to care, they have no idea what empathy means.

The best way to help your kid learn about empathy is by setting examples. Actually, when children know about empathy, there is much less racism, bullying, prejudice, and aggression, as reported by the psychologist and parenting expert, Dr. M. Borba.

5. Hug Your Child

When we hug, we trigger the release of oxytocin which is popular as the love hormone that makes us feel good.

The creator of  Parenting for Brain, Pamela Li, says that when we increase the levels of oxytocin, we increase the nerve growth factor and the insulin-growth factor as well. So, parents go and hug your children.

6. Play With Them

When children have a hard day, they do not need to talk as adults, but they want to play. Although you are preoccupied with work and daily chores, you have to find some time and play with your kids.

7. Spend Time Outside

The author of Enlightened Parenting, Meryl Davids Landau explains in the Huffington Post that active play outside is very good for your children’s emotional stability and academic success.

If children do not do this, they face problems with controlling their emotions, for instance, they cry out of nothing, or touch other kids using too much force, and so on.

8. Teach them to Do Their Chores

It is not easy to teach your children to do their chores, but it is very helpful. Those kids who do their chores are more responsible, have higher self-esteem, and are much better at dealing with frustration.

Marty Rossman conducted research and revealed that children who take part in household tasks are more successful, as published by the University of Minnesota.

9. Limit Their Screen Time

Dr. L. Margalit says that children need stimuli from the outside environment in order to develop in a normal way. So, make sure to limit the time your child spends in front of the screens.

10. Choose Experiences Instead of Things

According to the parenting writer, Sally White, children will remember the experiences instead of the things you buy them. Always choose a day in the park, a visit to the ZOO, chalk drawing, and many other activities, instead of buying them a lot of toys.

11. Watch Your Kids

The clinical psychologist, John Duffy advices parents to take some time and watch their kids doing activities and remind themselves how perfect they are.

12. Read Them Books

Besides keeping your children healthy and safe, you should read with them too. When you start reading to them when they are still babies, you help them learn to interact, speak, and bond, as the parenting writer, Amy Joyce explains in the Washington Post.

13. Play Music

According to Time, when kids learn to play the music they start hearing and processing sounds they could not hear before. Also, in this way, they develop a neurophysiological distinction between specific sounds that can help in literacy.