As a parent, it is your responsibility to raise your child to become a decent and productive member of society, and education plays a major role in creating a balanced individual. A good education is far more than academic success, although that is an important aspect, there are other areas that must be developed – a child should understand kindness and compassion and should have a desire to be supportive to others and respectful to their elders – while knowing right from wrong.
Here are a few mistakes that you should avoid when raising your child.
- Failing to spend time with your child – If work is hectic and you are committed to a heavy schedule, you must find time to spend with your child. Being in the same room is not enough, you must engage with your child on a suitable level, and ask questions about their day, their opinion on something and listen to the replies, as if your child is troubled by anything, this should surface.
- Choosing an unsuitable school – A common error, and one that can have lasting effects; when you put a child into an environment that they are not comfortable in, learning will not occur. If you are going to choose a British international school in Bangkok, talk to your child and visit at least once prior to term commencing, as this will give the child an opportunity to experience the ambience. If a child has a musical talent, for example, and they study at a school that focuses on academic excellence and not the arts, then your child will not reach their full potential.
- Failing to maintain discipline – It is perfectly natural for a child to test the boundaries, that’s the only way he or she will know what they can and cannot do, and it is vital, as a parent, to be consistent with your child. Emotion should play no part in your response to a situation, and you should remain calm when dealing with disputes, always aware of your response.
- Spoiling the child – Some parents think the best thing they can do for their child is to make life as easy as possible, always doing things for them, yet by doing this, you are actually hindering your child, as they are not able to experience difficulty and responsibility, besides, if you bring up a child in such a way, what would they do if something bad happened to you? You must decide what your child can do for themselves and what they need help with, and it is generally accepted that children rise to the occasion when handed responsibility.
- Unhealthy Diet – The parent ultimately decides what the child consumes, and in order to avoid issues with diet, you should start as you mean to go on; introduce fruit at an early age and avoid anything with a high sugar content. The first 5 years are critical for proper growth and it is essential that a growing child receives adequate vitamins and minerals, as well as proteins and carbohydrates.
If you are good at parenting, your child will turn out to a be a happy, successful and productive member of society.