Freedom and Responsibility Go Hand in Hand

As the child grows up, it’s not just learning phase for him but his parents as well. They must realize the importance of letting the child go and accepting his independence. But at the same time, they must make sure that they provide their full guidance and support to him.

Freedom

For teens freedom is important to make choices and for making crucial decisions. Along, with this they experience the consequences of those choices, thereby learning responsibility and self discipline. It gives them the opportunity to assert themselves, try new things and learn new skills.

Parents are often in a dilemma in granting freedom to their kids as they don’t understand how much and in what way to provide it.

When deciding amount of freedom for your kids set limits and while deciding that parents must keep in mind child’s abilities and past performances. Children who have shown responsible behavior earlier, they are able to make good choices and they earn increasing amounts of freedom. Though teenagers who are nearing 18 are entering adulthood but even for them guidance and supervision is still necessary as it is the most crucial stage of their life.

Responsibility

Freedom and responsibility must always be kept in balance. But, in balance between them, it is important to discern that freedom comes at the price of responsibility.

Give children responsibility that they can handle like babysitting a little brother or sister, or cleaning up the house etc. It will help you build trust through responsibility. Through responsibility you can have your child earn some far longer trust. Also, try and lead by example, show trust to those around you and show your children how you earned their trust it can help them see how to earn your trust.

No matter what, children need your constant love, encouragement and support as they growing up. Children must be essentially taught self discipline, responsibility and the skills they will need to live in the adult world. Children especially teens are often caught up with the expectations of the adults. Uncontrolled freedom and not enough responsibility, leads to a false sense of power in kids.

Every child is vying for freedom - freedom to move, freedom to connect, freedom to disconnect, freedom to explore, freedom to drive, buy stuff, date and be independent. You need to help your kid balance it in a way where freedom is earned with responsibility.

Positive Parenting: Celebrate Childhood Once Again

As a parent, you are blessed to live the childhood days once again. Not just considering child care as your duty, you must cherish every moment of this life’s phase. Cash the fun to the hilt and adopt an approach that provides you an opportunity to spend maximum time with your children. You must look forward to ways that will make childhood experience for you and for your child an exceptionally enjoyable and supportive one.

This is the period when you work towards building a strong foundation for your child’s future, therefore, try and create a happy foundation for him. Fill this stage with lots of happiness and joyful memories.

Find happiness in your child’s happiness – There is so much joy in a small child; share his amusements and laughter.  Having children in our lives is truly a blissful feeling. Make your child’s happiness your happiness.

Enjoy every moment – Don’t let go off any opportunity or miss any moment to enjoy with your child as these small moments together only make our life. Seek enjoyment in your child’s play or way he reacts to situations around him and especially the way a small child speaks, his way of poignancy and sentence structure that collide to make even serious things humorous. So enjoy every moment with them and cherish their companionship.

Let children be children – Don’t impose more than required restrictions on them. After all it’s their age to explore things around them. Let them divulge into things and figure out things themselves.  

Knit memories for lifetime – Plan out day-trips or weekends with them. Spend as much time as possible with your children. While planning your things to do list, always give priority to spending some quantity and quality time with them.

Gentle Discipline- Every one of us harnesses a school of thought that if you're not firm with children they won't learn as they won't take you seriously, which is a wrong notion. Positive parenting incorporates firmness but with a loving and gentle, approach.  If you are over-scheduled and frustrated, don’t pass it on to your children. They will feel stressed out too.

Playful Parenting- Parents need to lighten up and spend a few hours giggling with their kids every day. Playing is inherently healthy and beneficial for children and as well as for you. Engross in playful activities with them outdoors and remember children look for feedback, so smile, laugh and have fun!