Gifts of Love

A Parents Guide to Medicine Safety MRR

Children need positive inputs from adults, as these inputs will then greatly impact their future. They depend on the adults around them for 'positive leadership'.

As responsible adults, parents need to set good examples every day although they face various challenges themselves.

Some parents feel that their children need to be able to feel the disappointment because of their own wrong choices. This is so that they will self correct next time. This is actually a form of 'positive' punishment. Parents enforcing a 'positive' punishment will not try to correct their children's faults.

Children need 'positive' encouragements when they make progress in their learning process. Supportive parents know that this will help their children to be optismis.

Positive inputs does not spoil a child. It helps the child to grow well physically, mentally and spiritually.

Children misbehave because of many reasons. As parents, you have to deal with these misbehaves daily.

Some suggestions are:

- Ensure that the child has enough sleep.

- Ensure that the child has nutritious meals.

- Allow the child to be involve in daily activities with you. Child just want to be with their parents.

- Allow your child to have his own playtime.

- Encourage positive behaviors by establishing constructive rules. 'No' means no and 'yes' means yes.

- Always practice what you preach. Remember that children are great observers.

- Encourage the child to adopt a hobby. Reading or collecting small toys can be good hobbies.

Whatever the reasons a child has to misbehave, parents ought to look for ways to counteract positively. Tell or remind the child/children what you expect from them.

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Children are trying to express themselves through their behavior:

- feeling

- need

- want

- health

Try to understand the possible underlying causes of misbehavior can always provide parents with clues on how to handle each situation. Remember that young children do not have a rich vocabulary bank to describe their needs!

Parents need to be honest in their daily actions

when teaching children about honesty.

Children observe closely what their parents do!

Protect your children,

They need your love and understanding

to forget all unhappiness!

All children like to be noticed by adults.

All they want is an acceptance of who they are.

Showering affection on your children

is not enough;

They need your attention and guidance too!

Children love 'heroes'. In fact, every child has his very own 'hero'. The 'hero' may change as a child grows, however, the admiration for someone is still there. Parents always complain their children never look up to them as the heroes. Yet, what did the parents do while their children were growing up?

Here are some simple tips from a parent:

1.  Set good examples

All children are great observers. They observe and learn from the people around them especially their parents and siblings. They do not choose and pick in this learning process.

Their innocent minds are always learning and growing. As adults, you know what is right and wrong, but as children, they do not. As their parents and guardians, you have the right to be ‘good’ and ‘living’ examples.

2.  Actions speak the loudest

When you promise your children something, fulfill the promise as soon as possible. Do not think just because they are children, they would not remember what you have said yesterday.

Children have good memories. They can remember what you have said some time ago, when you have long forgotten it. They can be mischievous too. They know their parents’ weakness more than anyone else. They use the weakness to get the attention for themselves.

When you have promised your children to do something for them or with them, get it done. You do not want to live with the guilt of lying to your children. Be what you want your children to follow. When they saw you have fulfilled your promises, they remember it for life.

3.  Cut out swearing words from your vocabulary.

Some parents revealed that they could not help themselves. They have lived with the 'swearing' words all their lives.

Children learn fast. They never stop to ask if the words are acceptable or not. By the time you realized it, your children may have been reprimanded many times in school.

A hero never swears. If you feel the need to, replace the swearing words with something else …… count one to ten or take a few deep breaths.

4.  Spend quality time with family

Children grow up very fast. However, they do not forget fast enough. They will always wonder why you are so busy all the time.

When you just spend an hour a day with them, those hours in their growing years are the most precious in their lives. You do not have to buy any expensive toys or clothes for them. They just need your quality time and undivided attention.

Do something with them. Watch a television program, read a short story together, carpentering, gardening, etc. Some parents even start a hobby with their children.

These are simple actions that are precious to them.

5.  Avoid gambling

Parents who gamble find their children follow their footsteps soon enough. At first, the children just want to know why their parents like gambling. Then when the excitement sets in, they are already heavy gamblers.

Gambling destroys. When possible, point this out to your children. If you are a gambler, stop now when you can. Your children will learn from you when to stop before it is too late.

6.  Avoid gossiping and complaining in front of your children

Parents do not really mind complaining and gossiping in front of their children! However, children are good duplicators. They just repeat what they heard even if they do not know the meaning of the what was said.

You will find it embarrassing if your children repeat what you said about your neighbors to them! Do not blame your children for their innocence. Blame yourself for not being careful.

7.  Instill in them the good values you have learned

You have the responsible to pass on the good values to your children. You have the right to do so because you want them to grow up to be responsible people. Remember, your children carry on your name and bloodline. It is good that they know the difference between black and white and gray while they are young.

8.  Teach them about love and kindness 

Young children do not know what is love and kindness. Unless you explain and show them the actions, they will never know. That is why you have to be the first and always sets good examples at home.

9. Praise your children for their little achievements

Parents should always praise their children, even if the achievement is too small to be noticed. To a child, that is encouragement. It will help to build their confidence and good attitude. However, do not overdo it.

10. Reprimand your children when they do wrong

Some parents think reprimanding their children will make them unpopular. This is very wrong. Children who muddled up ought to be reprimanded immediately. If not, the confusion will grow with them. They will blame you for not telling them off when they were young.

Children are like seedlings. They need to be showered by attention, love, values and many good things. They cannot get them anywhere else except from you, their parents. So, do something about it, heroes!

When they grow into strong plants, you are truly their ‘hero’.

Every parent wants and hopes hard that his/her child brings home report cards with flying colors. Yet, some parents may see their hopes shatter. Frustrated parents are quick to fly into bad temper. They see no reasons why their children cannot do as well as other children.

Every child is a natural achiever. Children learn fast and absorb new knowledge hungrily. Unless there are problems, every child usually excels in academic and sports.

You don’t have to be quick to give up hopes on your child. There are many reasons behind a child’s ‘underachieving’.  You must find out fast before the reasons become disease. Some of the pointers are: 

1.     Your child does not seem to be interested in doing his homework.

He/She complains that the teacher does not explain the topic clearly. Your child may shove the responsibility away to someone else easily. Find out from the teachers if your child has not been paying attention in class. Look into the distractions yourself.

2.     Your child may have eyesight problem.

Some children have severe eyesight problem when they are young. Get an appointment with the optometrist as soon as possible. Get to the root of the problem. Follow the advice of the professional. Children like to complain, but they rarely tell their parents about their conditions. 

3.     Your child does not sleep well at night.

This can cause him/her to be sleepy during lessons. Avoid watching television programs on weekdays' night. You can put up a schedule to help your child to choose the programs to watch. Avoid heavy supper before bedtime as your child would find it difficult to sleep with a full stomach.

4.     Your child does not have breakfast before going to school.

This makes the child sleepy and less attentive in class. Some children just dislike breakfast. However, make it a habit to have breakfast together with your child. A filled stomach helps a child to be attentive during lessons.

5.     Lack of exercise can cause a child to be tired easily.

The child will not be paying attention during lessons. Obesity sets in when a child eats too much and not moving around much at all. At certain times, this child may even feign illness so that he/she does not have to go to school.

6.     Your child does not have time to do homework and revision due to the tight schedule you have arranged everyday.

You have your child attend two or three different tuition classes every day. Your child will be tired by the time he/she reaches home. Some children like to take their own sweet time to do their work. So, there would not be enough time to finish his/her school homework. Your child will not enlighten you with this problem. You have to find out the hard way.

7.     Your child is dependent on you or the private home tutor.

The child finds it difficult to complete his school homework without guidance. You have to be firm sometimes to make your child to do things alone. You must not offer too much help until the learning process becomes a spoon-feeding process.

8.     Your child is under some kind of stress.

As parents, you have a right to be critical of your child's progress in school. Remember that, although your child wants to please you, the stress you have inevitably put on your child can make him/her terrify of school and studies. If you need to have a professional opinion, please do so discreetly. Your child does not need the extra and unwanted attention from others.

9.     You have stayed away from your child's emotional need.

Your good intention of allowing your child the complete freedom of doing and learning things may not be proper at this time. Your child is not 'learning ready' yet. As your child has been spoon-fed all the while, it is difficult for him/her to be independent all of a sudden. 

10.         Your child has befriended those who care least about school.

Although you cannot be with your child all the time, you should be on the alert who your child’s friends are. Invite them home for a gathering to know them. Be observant and give gentle and useful advice to your child. Do not disgrace his/her friends openly. Encourage your child and his/her friends to do homework together in your own home. This way you can make sure they are all learning something.

11.      Do not emphasis only on the grades.

Parents are always afraid that their children will obtain poor grades in school. They emphasis too much in the grades their children will obtain in each and every test and examination.  Children with such weight on their shoulders will carry the fear of failure in them too. They will either try hard or do not want to try at all. 

12.      Unhappy experience at home.

Quarreling parents can easily distract children from their studies. Children do have the fear that something bad will happen at home. Unless parents know how to handle the situation, the children will suffer.

13.    Time to adjust to new surrounding.

Children always find it difficult to adjust to new surrounding in a short time. If you have just moved to another area, give your children some time to familiarize with the place and people. Sensitive children will need a longer period. They will need to go through the process of readjusting their emotions towards the new people they meet and the place they live. 

14.                 Be clear that your child has a problem.

Sometimes children just want some attention from their parents. How else to get it but by obtaining low grades in school? They are playing with your emotion. Spend more time with your child. Do things together. Let your child feels your love and presence.

Whatever the reasons maybe, you need to solve the problem as soon as possible. Do not blame others for your child's problems. Certain problems can be solved easily if you put in some effort and attention. Always discuss with your child before making a decision. Do not assume anything just because someone else you trust says so