Parents often judge how well they are doing by the number of activities their children are involved in, their grades, or their number of awards. It’s time we realized one has nothing to do with the other. Our job is raising children into healthy adults who aren’t afraid to improve themselves. Yes, children need encouragement to try new things and praise when they put for the effort, but we need to encourage them to try things they are interested in and take the focus off how much they can accomplish.

The Kids in Our Lives

It’s much easier to parent your own child than someone else’s. Every child – even those from wonderful homes – need healthy outside role models. You can help children outside your family build self-confidence by setting an example. Try new things and encourage others to do the same. Ask them what they are interested in. Reinforce the possibilities life holds, and how easy it is to make big things happen one step at a time.

If you are optimistic about life, you’ll inspire optimism and action in others.

Stay Positive about Other Parents

One of the biggest mistakes adults make is cutting down parents in front of children. Not just their own parent either. Whenever you complain about this mom or this dad, it makes a child wonder if you ever talk about their family that way. If you’re speaking in front of your own child, it might make them afraid that other people criticize you … and them.

Display healthy attitudes about yourself by not tearing into someone else. The damage you do to the child in your life is much greater than the relief you get from venting about a fellow adult.

Kids need help seeing themselves in positive and realistic ways. The easiest ways to do that are by providing an open ear, and being a self-confident adult. It’s not always easy, but you do see a return on your investment.

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