Ten tips for parents

How should one raise a child? This is not an easy task, because every child is individual and there are only general principles and advice that a parent is free to put into practice. Here below we have tried to list the most important tips in upbringing of a child.

1. Do not worry about food. It may seem to you that your child eats poorly. There is no need to worry; he will eat when he gets hungry. Do not force him to do eat and do not panic. Rather, the matter here is not to leave candies in a visible place.

2. Time of sleep. Summer is not a reason to change habits which you have developed. A child’s habit of going to sleep early is a guarantee of the mental health of the parents, because it provides them several hours for themselves.

3. Learn to say no. It is better that you turn down requests that are not beneficial to your child. Thus the fewer he will make. The first time a child will go into hysterics when he does not receives the thing he wants but the second time he will cry and be upset and the third time he will only sigh when parents do not buy him the treat he likes best of all.

4. Remember that you are a role model. Every child copies the behavior of his parents and children notice bad traits faster than good ones. Therefore, be aware of your own behaviour.

5. Read to your child every day. Firstly, this helps to establish an emotional connection with him, and secondly, it develops his imagination and increases his vocabulary.

6. Trust your instincts. If you do not understand what is wrong with your child and the feeling of anxiety does not leave you, trust yourself. Take me at my word, it is better to get a reputation as an anxious mother than to miss anything serious.

7. Admit that you are wrong. If you have made a mistake or broken a promise to your child, apologise to him. This will teach him that one can be wrong and it is important to admit one’s mistake.

8. Put your phone away. Whatever it may be: an important call, a message or an urgent notification, your child is more important than your work. His childhood will fly by so quickly! Have time to enjoy it and the rest will wait.

9. Answer the endless “why?” Young children are interested in everything and you are their main guide. If you stop answering their questions, they may stop asking.

10. Teach your child to say hello. Show him how to greet acquaintances, how to smile and what to say when leaving.

11. Security. Make up your own secret word. Play a situation in which the child may need to use it. Let it be something of a game for the little one. Remember that it may save him in the future.

AISHAT MAGOMEDOVA As-Salam correspondent