Raising children is a beautiful experience. To be in the front row audience while they surprise and befuddle you with their curiosity and creativity is something parents would not trade the world for. Ensuring your children are raised in a positive environment can bring enormous benefits to your home and the quality of life for your family. Here at Tiny Terrors, we can assist in bringing more positivity to your home with our In-Home Parenting and Behaviour Support Service. Here are our top ten ways in which parents and teachers can help kids develop positivity:

1.  Practice What You Preach

Children embody what they observe, and their first role models are their parents. If you tell them never to lie but take sick leave from work when you are perfectly healthy, it confuses them.

Remember that actions speak louder than words. When faced with a comparable situation, chances are they will do what they saw you do instead of what you told them to do.

2.  Cultivate Gratitude

When kids go to school, they make friends who can be a lot different from them. They may see a kid who is taller than them or has a cooler lunchbox and feel insecure about what they have. Left unchecked, these tiny insecurities can become significant problems such as body dysmorphia or financial ingratitude.

Remind them that their uniqueness is what makes them special.

3.  Be a Listening Ear

Little kids have little problems that might appear big to them. Listening to their worries can build trust between the two of you and relieve them of their stress. Knowing you care will ensure they come to you with bigger problems such as bullying and even harassment.

4.  Give Character-centric Compliments

Compliments on outward appearances are great but myopic. Children of a developing age need to be reminded that their worth is much more than just being “cute.” Admire their bravery, honesty, and sensitivity. Everything you compliment, they will consider as important and start honing.

5.  Encourage Optimism

Ingratitude is a tough habit to break, but it can be nipped in the bud. Help your kids see the more positive side of things. Out of ice-cream? That means they can have an apple type of dessert instead.

Helping them see the silver lining can also help us cultivate a feeling of gratitude that we can often miss worrying about something trivial.

6.  Home: A Safe Haven

No matter what marital or work troubles you might be facing, try not to bring them home. Kids spend most of their lives inside their house. Feeling unsafe and threatened at such an early age can make them develop negative emotions about their parents and even their homes.

7.  Be Physically Active

It is no secret that physical activity releases endorphins, the happy hormone in our body. This can help us stay healthier and more positive.

When your kids play outside the house, join them, and have a fun family bonding experience.

8.  Your Mess, Your Responsibility

If your kids have strewn their clothes or toys all over their room, ask them to clean it up. Do not do it yourself or ask somebody else to do it for them. This encourages them to mind their actions prior to doing them as they will experience consequences.

9.  Remind Them You Are Here for Them

If a kid shares something with you, whether it is a failed test or a wet bed, do not spill it to anyone else. It is an embarrassing confession, and they trusted you with it. Becoming their confidante at an early age can help them come back to you for help or advice when they grow up.

10.       Sharing is Caring

Parenting is a learning curve, and so is growing up. Share stories about your own life with them and help them get to know you better. Crack jokes and poke harmless fun and let them see a side of you that is more than just a parent. This will help them not only respect you but also love you for the person you are.

Developing positive habits can shape your tiny human beings the right way. These children can then grow up to become citizens that prove there is still good in the world if you know where to look.

Tiny Terrors is an award winning in-home parenting and behaviour support agency providing a range of services that will help you raise a more competent and confident child. You can reach out to us for more information and email us to schedule an appointment.