Top Tips Tuesday with Toni Barrett

Children are the Future: Teach them well!

Whitney Houston sang, “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way” and I could not agree more. Children are prized possessions gifted to the nation by God, to grant us joy on days that are gloomy and to make us smile on nights that are undeniably dark. Children should know that we accept and appreciate them but most of all, they should be taught how to be valued and loved. Here are five tips that can help us to show our children that we care for them.

Tell them you love them- Yes! I said it. Hearing the words “I love you” is unquestionably one of the most life changing phrases a child can hear. While actions may speak louder than words, positive words offer a great amount of value and substance to a child’s ear. They can learn your love language while you learn theirs and this can be transferred to future relationships.

Teach them to be kind- In a world such as this where people are experiencing many difficulties on a daily basis, kindness is needed. Teaching kindness to our children can be compared to a small tree rooted and grounded in the land. With continuous watering and care, the tree will grow to bear fruits or have great limbs with leaves that can shelter us from sun or rain; so will our children be as they grow if taught kindness. Kindness is never overrated.

Teach them patience- I know some of us may not have mastered the art of patience but we can teach it to our children. Teaching children to wait, helping them to know when it is their time versus when it’s time for others to do something is very important. Patience can aid in problem solving, critical thinking, tolerance and understanding other people that are different from them.

Give them an education- we all deserve a chance to attend an educational institution, meet new friends, interact with teachers and learn as we grow. School is one of the three main modes of socialization which plays a pivotal role in the lives of children. As children learn online, continue to support them through this journey as it is new and quite difficult. They will thank you later for selflessly putting them first so that they could receive the best education.

Give them gifts- children enjoy receiving gifts. Allow them to understand rewards are as a result of positive behaviour. Gifts allow children to work harder and continue the positive behaviour they have been displaying. Teach them that it is not only good to receive gifts but it is also good to give gifts.

Children are the future, look at us, we were once like them. If you know of anything that could have been done for you as a child, why not do it for a child today? Children live what they learn and they learn what they live. Teach them well!

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