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Expectations Return to Parenting
By LifeAdviceSite.com
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When it comes to parenting, it can be
hard to know how regimented you should be to maintain order in your
household. Some parents are very easy-going and like life to be
spontaneous and relaxed. Other parents are very strict and prefer to
stick to a very rigid schedule. So which way should you lean?
Well,
spontaneity is a wonderful thing. Teaching spontaneity teaches your
child to enjoy life, be adventurous, and make the most of
opportunities. In addition, incorporating a certain level of
spontaneity into life helps
us to become familiar with and eventually embrace a shift in routine,
and it allows us the freedom and flexibility to go with the flow
when things do change unexpectedly and beyond our control
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As
valuable as spontaneity is, most experts would agree setting a
routine and giving children
expectations they can depend on is also one of the essentials of
raising
happy, healthy children. Having certain routines you follow each day
will benefit everyone in
the family. Setting a routine helps you get your family and household
organized so you can get everything on your daily list accomplished.
Routines help teach children good habits such as brushing your teeth
every day and washing hands after using the bathroom. Routines such as making
dinner together every night or reading a book together before bedtime help families
bond, and routines can also help promote good behavior. If children know what is
expected of them and a time frame in which it is expected each day like picking up their toys
before bed or setting the table for dinner, providing you enforce that
expectation they're much more likely to
do what you've asked the first time. Routine breeds habit, so once you
implement the
routine and stick to it together, it will become second nature and
eliminate constant arguing.
While
there's no need to run your home like a military operation, children do
need some sort of routine and structure to their day. The world around
us is full of uncertainties, so having some predictability whenever
possible and setting an expectation that can be followed through is
key to helping children feel safe, secure and settled. Sometimes, as
creatures of habit, we
have a difficult time with change and can find change to be stressful
or even alarming. If someone is raised in a family situation full of volatile
changes and uncertainty,
certainty is what they will seek. Often if the mind is set on a plan and the plan
changes, it can be upsetting and stressful.
Your level of
structure and routine will depend on the lifestyle of your family and
the temperaments of the children you are raising. Some children will
require more or less structure. Generally speaking, if you can find a
way to strike a balance between structure and spontaneity in your
parenting style, you will more than likely be paving the way to ensure
you are raising healthy, happy, well-adjusted children.
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Copyright 2007-2009 LifeAdviceSite LLC. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: The creators, administrators and any contributors of this
site and the information herein are not licensed counselors, advisers
or health professionals. Content is intended for informational
purpposes only and not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any
condition, situation or ailment. Content is subject to possible errors
or omissions. You are encouraged to take charge of your own health,
wellness and life circumstances and to conduct your own research and/or
experimentation on any subject matter you have questions or concerns
about. It's your life - live the best one possible every day! |
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Parenting Expectations