| Since it is so crucial that kids grow up | | | | 3) One of the easiest way is to hang up their |
| believing in themselves, I have more tips for | | | | pictures on the wall so that visitors can |
| you. | | | | take a look at them too. Encourage them to |
| | | | take about the story or idea behind the |
| 1) Do not criticize. Criticism can greatly | | | | picture. If your kids are older, you could |
| diminish confidence. It is easy for parents | | | | embark on a project to write a storybook. The |
| to say "See, I told you not to do that and | | | | child could write on a short chapter a week. |
| now you are dirty all over." We need to | | | | They can also hang up short articles or jokes |
| remind ourselves constantly that everytime we | | | | on the wall. |
| diminish their self-esteem, it will take us a | | | | |
| lot more effort to restore it. Or even worse, | | | | 4) Communicate with your child as much as |
| we leave it as it is and the child will | | | | possible. You will need to know what they are |
| hesitate to do new things in future. If you | | | | feeling and thinking before you can decide on |
| have nothing good to say, it is better not to | | | | the next course of action. Most parents spend |
| say anything. Talk to children about their | | | | time and money attending courses to find out |
| mistake in a positive way. | | | | about how to deal with their children when |
| | | | the most important thing they need to do is |
| 2) What is your first reaction when you see | | | | to spend more time with them. |
| your child in your room full of lipstick on | | | | |
| his lips and all your lipsticks are spoilt? | | | | 5) Help children to find their own interest |
| Will you start screaming at him? Most of us | | | | and build on it. Try not to emphasize on |
| would. Then you would have fallen into their | | | | perfection and competition. Instead focus on |
| trap. What should you do then? Make them | | | | doing their best and enjoying the process. |
| clean up the mess, even if it takes half the | | | | The process is just as important ,if not more |
| day. The child have to pay for the lipsticks | | | | important than the result. Children will |
| by either not having a new toy or no | | | | realize that there are so many things to |
| Macdonalds for the next two months. Screaming | | | | learn on the way which are so valuable to |
| at them does not really help as they already | | | | them. |
| feel frightened when they know you have found | | | | |
| out the truth. Let them learn that they have | | | | Cheng Cheng is a parenting expert with two |
| to be responsible for what they do. If they | | | | boys age 5 and 6. She has learnt a lot from |
| can come up with their own punishment (which | | | | books and other mothers. She hopes to share |
| you are agreeable to), that would be better. | | | | her experiences and knowledge which will |
| | | | definitely be useful to you. |