As a child growing up my parents set an example for me to have direction in life, to keep busy. Now I was not the best behaved child, or adult for the matter, but that one (of many) things that my parents taught me has made me a better parent.
Teaching a child how to keep active not only physically but mentally is one of the best gifts we can give our child/ren. Sure there is after school activities like dance, gymnastics, karate, soccer, football (the list is endless really), but it is the ones that are put together and participated in with loved ones that make all the difference.
1. Set up a soccer field in the back yard, get some chalk and draw some goals on the back fence and get kicking.
2. Ride the bikes to school drop off and come home a different way just to make the journey different.
3. Go to the beach on a wet and windy day just to see what the waves have washed up.
4. Pick up a book and ask a child to read with you, especially if it is outside of the regular reading time!
5. Cook some Honey Joys and let them fill in the patty tins (messy I know, but just watch their sense of achievement).
6. Get your child involved in a community activity or a regular family outing. Organised children's activities such as Toy Library or Story Time at your local library are wonderful things to expose children to at an early age, and they are often free activities.
Do not always think that you as a parent have to organise the day. Set a day aside for the child/ren to organise. Ask them the day before what they would like to do tomorrow. You will have many suggestions as children do not really understand the concept of time and travel, but pick out a few of their suggestions and put them together as close to what they request as possible. You could even put it on a €Day Planner', where you put €breakfast', €lunch' and €dinner' and let them draw around it. Even let them plan and make dinner. There are many skills involved for your child/ren having a day like this, one of which is keeping them involved and teaching them to think, plan, play and achieve.
Being a busy parent will teach your children to be busy in turn. As a mum, I have many jobs, but one that I am most proud to show my son's is that I am a business women. I own an online business with a close friend, and I often tell them what I am doing or what is a challenge for me today. Let them see what it takes to reach your goals and let them share in the rewards.
Keeping a child's mind and body busy will make for a happy parent as at the end of each day the child will be fulfilled and exhausted, both which are a sign that the day has been of great use.
Teaching a child how to keep active not only physically but mentally is one of the best gifts we can give our child/ren. Sure there is after school activities like dance, gymnastics, karate, soccer, football (the list is endless really), but it is the ones that are put together and participated in with loved ones that make all the difference.
1. Set up a soccer field in the back yard, get some chalk and draw some goals on the back fence and get kicking.
2. Ride the bikes to school drop off and come home a different way just to make the journey different.
3. Go to the beach on a wet and windy day just to see what the waves have washed up.
4. Pick up a book and ask a child to read with you, especially if it is outside of the regular reading time!
5. Cook some Honey Joys and let them fill in the patty tins (messy I know, but just watch their sense of achievement).
6. Get your child involved in a community activity or a regular family outing. Organised children's activities such as Toy Library or Story Time at your local library are wonderful things to expose children to at an early age, and they are often free activities.
Do not always think that you as a parent have to organise the day. Set a day aside for the child/ren to organise. Ask them the day before what they would like to do tomorrow. You will have many suggestions as children do not really understand the concept of time and travel, but pick out a few of their suggestions and put them together as close to what they request as possible. You could even put it on a €Day Planner', where you put €breakfast', €lunch' and €dinner' and let them draw around it. Even let them plan and make dinner. There are many skills involved for your child/ren having a day like this, one of which is keeping them involved and teaching them to think, plan, play and achieve.
Being a busy parent will teach your children to be busy in turn. As a mum, I have many jobs, but one that I am most proud to show my son's is that I am a business women. I own an online business with a close friend, and I often tell them what I am doing or what is a challenge for me today. Let them see what it takes to reach your goals and let them share in the rewards.
Keeping a child's mind and body busy will make for a happy parent as at the end of each day the child will be fulfilled and exhausted, both which are a sign that the day has been of great use.
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