Practical parenting tips
My training as a parent coach has given me a valuable insight into the key needs of children. I now have greater confidence that if I aim to meet those needs, my children will develop into well-rounded, confident adults.
Giving children a sense of responsibility will encourage personal independence; my 6-year old daughter loves her responsibility of choosing what to wear in the morning (and although I’m not convinced that pink and orange go together she looks very proud of herself!)
Children also need new experiences for mental growth and I have found the easiest way of incorporating this into everyday life is to interact with them more fully and point out new sights, sounds and smells. My 3-year old son loves to stop and watch the workmen digging up roads or examine leaves on the pavement.
All this growing up requires an enormous amount of learning so it is important to give plenty of praise and attention. And most important of all is love and security – children need a reliable, loving relationship within their family unit to develop a strong sense of self worth. A simple cuddle can make a child feel so much better (and sometimes avoid a brewing tantrum!)
During my training we listed our favourite games and memories from our childhood. The top ones included making dens, mud pies, rose-petal perfume, fishing, bike rides, picnics, playing games with friends, the ice cream van, bedtime stories and drawing.
The memories created excited responses and interestingly none of them involved a TV or computer game! Although times may have changed and we sometimes feel uncomfortable about letting our children out unsupervised for hours on end, we can still give them plenty of creative time and space to use their initiative and imagination.
What are you favourite childhood memories – the games you played and the things you loved to do – and how can you recreate them for your children?
So take some time with your children, give them some independence and lots of praise and cuddles, and have some fun helping them create their own wonderful childhood memories.
If you are a working parent, read her article on ‘Achieving a good work/life balance’ as well.
About the author
Anna Golawski is a Post Graduate qualified coach, and brings with her a wealth of talent and experience gained over the last fifteen years in business, working for Harrods, Rolls Royce and IBM. She started coaching in 2003 as part of her MBA and has enabled numerous clients achieve their goals and ambitions. She has written several coaching articles for magazines and is a business mentor for the Prince's Trust.
Nineteen Minutes design and offer flexible packages to meet your needs and your budget, and costs are likely to be comparable with other training and development packages you use. To find out more about the benefits Nineteen Minutes will bring to your organisation please call Anna on 07772 24 23 24 or e-mail annagolawski@nineteenminutes.com
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