Child Rearing Practices Essay

A relationship between a parent and a child begins the day the child is born. First, the child has many powerful gifts to offer to his parents. His unqualified love, absolute trust, emotions and thrill to discover revolves all around the parents from the day he is born. As the parent, you have many gifts to offer your child in return. Some are subtle, but all are very powerful. Giving them will make you a good parent. Receiving them will help your child become a healthy, happy, capable individual. Your unconditional love, self-esteem, values and traditions, joy, health, secure surroundings and skills will help your child grown into a healthy adult someday. Many parents know a lot more about parenting than they give themselves credit for. You spent years observing your own parents and other families. All your instinctive responses will help you be a giving parent. In today’s society things have become very complex when raising children. Sometimes parents benefit by education from pediatricians and other parents. They are concerned and interested in helping when issues may seem frustrating. As you receive advice remember that some is valuable but not all of it. One of the ways to protect your child is from advice that may not suit your need or family. You will know what is best for you and your child and what works! One of the ways your child shows you her love is by imitating you. This is also a way she learns how to behave, develop new skills, and take care of herself. From a very early age she watches you and shows this through her behavior. Your examples become permanent images, which will shape her attitude and actions the rest of her life. Setting a good example for your child means you must be responsible, loving, and consistent with her. Setting a good example also means taking care of yourself. As a parent, it is hard to lose sight of your needs. That’s a mistake! Your child depends on you to be physically and emotionally healthy. When you take care of yourself you are showing your child that you have self-esteem, which is important for the both of you. The healthier and happier you keep yourself, the better it will be for the both of you since your child ultimately patterns some of her habits after your own. A child needs to be shown that they are loved. Giving is more than just saying it. Your child doesn’t understand the words unless you show her. Show your child how much you care and love them by being affectionate and relaxed. Give plenty of physical contact such as hugging and kissing. Take time to show them by singing and playing. Listen to your child and watch as they respond to you. This will show your affection and make your child feel safe and secure. One of the skills you teach your child is to communicate. Her communication starts when she is just a baby and watches and listens to you. It is important to communicate with all family members since your child watches and listens to your interactions with others. You must express yourself and encourage your child to be open with you. Look to see if she has changes in her behavior that are affecting her negatively. The more sensitive and honest you are the more your child will feel comfortable with you and will have no problem communicating. As parents we realize that the journey of raising a child is the most wonderful and exciting time of our life. It will have many up and downs, times of joy and times of sadness. It is important that the responsibilities of parenthood become easier and a lot more fun. I hope a few of my recommendations will help you along your wonderful journey of parenthood!