Teach Your Child to Listen, Forgive, and Be Grateful
Use the period between childhood and adolescence.
AS CHILDREN grow, they try to understand their expanding world. They interact with more and more people — playmates, classmates, and relatives. This means you are not the only one who has influence over your child again, as you did when he or she was a little child.
That is why you should use the period between childhood and adolescence to teach your child the importance of obedience and good manners. It is also important to give him or her guidance on what is right and what is wrong.
It is not easy to teach your child these things and it takes a long time. You may need to 'rebuke him, to encourage him, with endurance and teaching skills.'
The Israelite parents were commanded in this way about God's laws: 'you must inculcate God’s laws in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.' Deuteronomy 6: 6, 7
As that scripture indicates, it is extremely important to teach them continuously.
There are some challenges involved in fulfilling the responsibility of raising your child. Let us consider some of them.
Time to Listen
There is “a time to speak,” and a time to listen.
In what ways can you teach your child to listen when others speak — including you? One way is by setting a good example. Do you really listen to others, including your children?
Children can be easily distracted, and of course, it is easy to become impatient when you try to talk to them. Every child is different, so explore and identify the best ways to communicate with your child. For example, you could ask your child to repeat what you told him (or her) in his own words. This helps him to learn to listen as he (or she) grows older.
For you to understand something clearly you must listen carefully, then it is even more important for children to learn to listen to others carefully!
Being willing to forgive
Children can be trained to develop the ability to forgive.
How?
As we have already mentioned about good listening skills, you need to set an example. Let your children see you develop a forgiving spirit when dealing with others.
Audrey a mother in France, makes a point of doing so. She says: "We try to set a good example for our children in forgiving others, let go of things when we are wronged or offended, and not getting upset." and he adds: “When I do wrong, I apologize to my children. I want them to learn to do the same in their dealings with others. ”
The ability to resolve differences and forgive will be needed in adulthood. Train your children now to be considerate of others and to accept responsibility for their own mistakes. By teaching them these things, you will be giving them a wonderful gift that will greatly help them as they grow up.
Being Grateful
The best way you can teach children to have a grateful attitude is to show it at home. This means that you should regularly say how much you appreciate the help you receive and the other things they do that show consideration. You need to do it often.
See a good example of José from Mexico; he says, "My wife and I thank those who have shown us kindness, such as teachers or grandparents," he goes on to say "When a family invites us to a meal, we write a thank-you note, and all the children sign or draw a picture on the card."
Being grateful will help your child to develop lasting friendships and intimacy later in life.
Discipline
As your children grow, it is essential for them to learn that actions have consequences. Even when they are young, children must be submissive, not only at home but also at school and in the community. You can help your children learn the principle that “you will reap what you sow.”
How?
If you have clearly stated that you will punish a child for some wrongdoing, do not be afraid to do as you said and disciplined him.
Parents can avoid much conflict after the child has done something wrong by making sure the child understands the consequences of disobedience first.
Children will be more inclined to accept discipline if they know the rules and if they know what is going to happen if they break those rules and if they have reason to believe that punishment can never be reversed.
Of course, for discipline to have an effect, it should be given without anger. Also, discipline should not be given harshly and it should not be harmful — physically or emotionally.
Always show the children what you would like them to be instead of focusing on the mistake they made.