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How Children Teach Parents Everyday

How Do Children Teach Their Parents Everyday, Mindful Family,Mindful Living Network, Mindful Living, Dr. Kathleen Hall, The Stress Institute, OurMLN.com, MLN, Alter Your Life, Mindful Family, Family

Every parent has experienced the phenomena of their child begging for their favourite story to read, their favourite song to be played or their favourite movie to be watched for the 100th time. Children teach their parents everyday through the choices they make and here is why we can learn about them so much if we pay attention.

Even though we adults might be tempted to hide the favourite book or introduce a new book, CD, or DVD, we must stop ourselves because our children are actually teaching us a huge lesson about how they want and need to be parented.

How do children teach their parents everyday?

When our children repetitively make a request for their favorite story to be read, it is because they have an interest in mastery. They love to explore new toys, corners, books, and movies. Once the all-important excitement of discovery has occurred, children set out to “master” the things that interest them the most.

Mastery occurs through repetition. Young children are driven to discover and then master all aspects of their world.

Discipline is another area in which children innately crave mastery. Children test their parents because they are trying to figure out how their world works and what is acceptable behavior. While they do their research they do things consciously and unconsciously to investigate their world and its limits so that they are able to “master” it.

The best thing parents can do is to learn a simple methodology for discipline, get trained to use it and then apply it consistently. This will decrease the number of times their child needs to test and will diminish the intensity of the testing. Children whose parents often use different strategies, use bribes or threats become very confused and unsure of themselves. It is for this reason that many parenting experts say that discipline makes children feel safe and secure.

One can liken children’s feelings to the experience of hiking down a trail with very few trail signs or markers. It’s confusing! Without clear signals to keep one on course, one is more likely to make wrong turns and get into trouble. This is what it’s like for children as they try to learn the path of acceptable behavior. When limits are unclear children steer off course, thus making mastery of acceptable behavior very difficult and unsettling.

Remember

So, as you spend time with your child, remember what it is that they crave the most mastery. Let’s be conscious of this and then make a decision to help them master their world with confidence and ease.

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