6 Simple Ways to Appreciate Your Child

December 17, 2008

photo by sam, ProblemChildbride

A book in Kinokuniya caught my attention when I was shopping few days ago.  It is about appreciating your child.  As far as I know, I read many parenting books on parenting tips, unlock your child’s potential to bring out the genius in them etc.  But books about appreciating our child are rare.  I did not really read the book anyway as I was too lazy to start a new book especially a thick one without finishing my current book.  However, the title of the book alone makes me realized that the root of parenting is to start appreciating your child.

Here are some simple ways that I have thought of that we can show our appreciation to our children

1. Show them love  using your body language. Hug them, kiss them on the forehead and give them the biggest smile ever when they wake up first thing in the morning.  Imagine the feel good factor if the first thing you see first day in the morning is a happy face and a great smile, doesn’t it warms your day?
2. Reward and encourage them for the good things they do rather than focusing on punishing their wrong doings.  Of course, I have not forgotten the sayings “Spare the rod and spoil the child”, however, if punishment can’t work, why not try another approach.
3. Spend time with them. There should always be a balance between family and work life.  Always find time whereby you can spend with your children and family.
4. Spend time with individual child is you have more then one. Spend time with them individually, it means a lot to them.  I always remember the smile and the happiness on my son’s face after an outing with me.  We went to Thomas saves the Day and Madagascar 2 and he always went home feeling happy about the whole outing.  Even my husband can feel his joy.  When my daughter, Ashlyn is older, I will bring her to similar private outings.
5. Say I LOVE You.. it is a form a assurance to the children that their parents will always love them.  Many parents are reserved about that.  But if you are willing to start saying I love you, the rewards will be great.  Sometimes, out of the blue, my shy little boy, Ashton will hug me and say I love you, mummy.  Ashlyn who haven’t really talk clearly will tell me: ” mimi, love”. It feels good.
6. There will be some off days whereby we parents are so mad that we shout at our children.  Can’t denied kids sometimes leave you hopping mad.  I personally don’t really think scream-free parenting is really possible unless I am a saint.  But after that, always remember their innocence and not forget we were once children like them who get on our parents nerves.

Care to share some unique ways of yours to appreciate your child?  If you like the post, join us at The New Age Parents now.

Posted in My Parenting Journal