Celebrate the blessings of children, the future of tomorrow, with a special pledge this Children’s Day, November 14, 2017, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s birthday.

Schools organise various cultural activities, teachers perform special acts to entertain students, the state and central governments organise ‘Children Film Festival’ and shopping malls and play areas are spruced up to resemble a carnival.

Now, as parents, it is your utmost responsibility to make your children feel cherished on this day to commemorate childhood, love and innocence. Your job as a parent is not restricted to this particular day only, but to celebrate every single day of his/her life as Children’s Day.

 

To help a child develop into a decent, self-confident human being? Helping foster empathy, honesty, self-reliance, self-control, kindness, co-operation and cheerfulness is good parenting, says Steinberg a professor of psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia. These qualities themselves inculcate intellectual curiosity, motivation and desire to achieve in your children and protect them from developing anxiety, depression, eating disorders, anti-social behaviour and alcohol and drug abuse.

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Build a good positive relationship with your children. It will be reflected in their actions. Children should never suffer physical abuse. To show who is the boss or instill fear is not a good approach. Set high standards for yourself first and then for your children. You serve as a role model for them.

Love your child too much, it cannot spoil them. The only thing to be taken care of is to be selective when it comes to material indulgence, leniency, low expectations and over protection. These things spoil children in the name of love.

Spending quality time with them and listening to their problems is important. Let your child know that you will always be there for them by being responsive to the child’s signals and sensitive to their needs. Be a warm, safe haven for them to explore from.

Children raised by parents who are consistently responsive tend to have better emotional development, social development and mental health outcomes. Talk to them and listen to them carefully. Keep an open line of communication. No spanking. Children who are spanked are more prone to fighting with other children. They are more likely to become bullies. Apply the approach of positive discipline instead. Find ways to turn every negative experience into a learning opportunity for him/her.

Inculcate screen-free activities in children for their overall good mental and physical health. Gadgets are spoiling them. Join the revolution of gadget-free parenting. Give more emphasis on outdoor for everyone, not just children. Play with them without setting time limit or rules. Give them some independent activities to do on their own completely. This will give them a feeling of accomplishment and build self-confidence. Help them to enjoy reading and writing. Give them freedom to explore, learning will happen naturally. Allow them only a few hours of screen time on weekends.

These are the best Children’s Day gift ideas your children would treasure for the rest of their lives. Nothing can beat this type of nurturing for the golden period of your kid’s life.

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