The BEST Children Lessons

I was lying the other day on the beach and there were many families with kids around me. As usual I was observing how the parents treat children and how the kids behave.

What really bothered me that day was that some parents were treating their kids as they were little babies even when they were already 4, 6 or even more years old.

Are you doing the same mistake? Do you always stand behind your kid and follow each step? Are you yelling: “Dress up, you will catch cold?” or “Don’t go there, you will fall!” or even “You already ate one ice-cream today, you might get ill if you eat more!”. And then there were parents who were dressing and undressing the kids. Running after them with sandwiches. Going with them to the ice-cream parlor just few steps away. Or have them wear shoes all the time.

By over-protecting your kid you are doing great damage to his self-esteem and his self-worth. You are taking away his power to do the things his way and to learn by doing. And you are depriving him of some great experiences.

Here are some tips you might consider doing:

• Even small kids can quickly learn to dress and undress, so let them do it by themselves. There is no need that you control them or even do it for them. So what if not everything is just perfect. The kids don’t mind and they can play as well with two different socks.
• Let your kid do errands – kids are eager to learn things that adults are doing. Let them do basic chores (like making beds, doing the laundry, getting out garbage, even some cooking and cleaning). It will take time at first, but you can be sure, they will learn soon enough. Not only will they feel empowered, you’ll have less work to do
• Give them some tools. Except when the stuff is too heavy or dangerous, when you should protect your child, let them bang and saw just like his daddy. The final product is not as much important as the feeling of creation. And when you actually produce something together they will be so proud.
• Send your kid to buy something. Do it with caution, but let him go to the store, pick up things and pay for them. Start with small list, ice-cream or donut , and wait for the kid in front of the store.
• Negotiate some basic rules when you go out with the kid, like how far he can go by himself, where you will wait for him and where you will meet again, but then let go. Watch from distance how he plays and where he goes.
• Do not intervene at every quarrel he has with the friends at the park. Trust him that he will handle it by himself. But make sure he is aware that he can always get your help if he asks for it.
• Kids know when they are hungry and thirsty. There is no need for you asking them all the time. Have special time for the meal, but before and after that they don’t really need to eat.
• Let the kids enjoy nature by walking barefoot on the beach, in the sea, through grass… Let them be outside when it rains. They are not so fragile. And if you protect them all the time, they will sure get cold when you least expect it.
• Let them get dirty. Clothes and hands can get washed, but the kids watching others from distance and being afraid to mess the clothes can get really miserable.

When you let your kid do things by himself, he will be more eager to learn more. He will gain confidence and will be more likely to try new things. He will learn to listen to his own voice and to judge the situation better, because he will have some previous experience. He will be more open to other people, but still careful and prudent.
And what is important as well, you will learn to trust your kid. You will be calmer and more peaceful, knowing that he can take care of himself and be responsible.

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When we have our own kids, we want them to raise into responsible, accountable human beings, but very often parents limit the children’ power to express themselves and to take charge. We tell them what to do and how to do it. Some parents might argue that we are trying to protect them from the dangers of the world, but by doing so we are taking away their control and self-esteem. Parents need to learn to give the kids responsibility for their lives.

Here are few ways how you can do it from early years on.

When the kids are really small they depend on you and your care. But as soon as they can do something by their own, let them do it. Encourage their trying and efforts. Just like we are enthusiastic about walking, speaking and riding a bike, teach them other smaller tasks like dressing up, eating, putting away toys etc. with the same enthusiasm.
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Did you ever heard of Laughter (or Laughing) Yoga?

It is a combination of laughing and yoga breathing and it is based on the assumption that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter, and that their physiological and psychological benefits are thus identical. People get together just to laugh, which is stimulated by eye staring and playfulness.

Ever noticed that the children are naturals for this? They make funny faces, quirky noises and peculiar moves and I’m sure your child would love to laugh along, if you make those.

So, when you have a few minutes, make your child ROFWL (roll on floor with laughter).

Did you like it? Please share your comments below!

You might also like other 49 ideas and activities in the “50 Law of Attraction Games for Children” workbook to help you teaching children while you play.

Remember how children could brag endlessly in front of their friends about what they have. It can be really annoying, but can you make a fun of it?

Get them list all the things they really have.

Help them see beyond material things (although they will probably start with them). Put on a list all their friends, things in their neighborhood and the environment (like fresh air, water, woods …). Don’t forget to mention their rights (like freedom, schooling…) and their feelings (towards themselves, other people and from others to them).

You can even make a competition, who can list more things.

Or go even further and find the pictures of everything listed to post somewhere as a reminder.

The game will show your kids that they already have lots of things that they can enjoy and be grateful for. They will also help them appreciate the NOW and to live in the moment.

Did you like the idea? Post your comments below!

Or check out other 49 ideas in the workbook “50 Law of Attaction Games for Children”.

If you were an animal, which one would you choose?

Would you be brave as a lion? Hard-working as bees or ants? Deceptive as a fox?

Now think about these questions:

• Why would you select this animal?
• Which characteristics would you like to have?
• What would you do with your power (or brains)?
• What would be your message to the people?
• Would you choose to help someone special with the quality you possess?

I would really love to hear your answers. Please post your comments below.

And if you liked the idea, you might also like other 49 games and activities in the workbook “50 Law of Attraction Games for Children”.

When our Tina (the younger one) was at the summer camp, we went to visit her.

She was having great time with the scouts, where everything was really natural, even tables and benches were freshly made from the tree, they make the fire to cook  and they wash themselves in the river.

It’s a tradition that parents spent the Sunday with the kids at the camp and get involved in different activities.

So, we packed, together with some food and extra clothes:

• cooler box (to have our drink fresh and cold)
• GPS navigation (to find the way)
• portable DVD player (if Anja gets bored in the car)
• 2 iPod’s (to have the music if radio signal is lost)
• 3 mobile phones (everyone took its own; just in case…)
• 2 cameras and a portable disc to download pictures (again, just in case…)
• and of course for each device extra charger, cables and plug-ins for the car electricity…

And we were going to enjoy our family time together at the wilderness of the National Park?!?!

Well, of course we left everything in the car to be with the kids and to have a good time with other parents, but it makes me think.

Why don’t you assign at least one day for being unplugged. Leave behind all the devices and just enjoy your time! Find places you would never go, explore the nature and use nature’s materials to play with them. Do you know how to make a water mill from branches?

Summer is a great time to meet your neighbors. The days are longer, the evenings are warm and everybody is more relaxed.

So… invite your neighbors to the party!

It doesn’t have to be a big burden for you. Don’t complicate and stress over it. Have your neighbors join you in the preparation. Decide on the date and delegate the assignments.

Each family could bring some food and drinks and prepare a game or an activity, such as relays for the kids, treasure hunt, face painting, football…

If you want to give a little more, collect charity donations or help a family in a need with some clothes and school supplies.

“…When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag
So wave your flag, now wave your flag, now wave your flag…”
(Waving Flag by K’Naan)

If you watch the World Cup or not, you could not miss the anthem song, as it can be heard everywhere you go. 

If you were to compete or represent your family to the world, what colors would your flag be? What message would you want to give to your fans?

Find the pictures and words and put them on your flag to represent your family, your values and ideas, your mission and your wishes.

I would really love to see your flag! Post a picture or describe it in the comments below!

The best museums and museum exhibits about science or technology give you the feeling that, hey, this is interesting, but maybe I could do something here, too. Paul Allen

Why don’t you spend a hot summer day in the museum?

I am sure there are some great exhibitions and events at the local or near-by museum. Find out if they have something special, like a workshop or hands-on experiments. You can learn something new or relive the past.

Every June we visit the Museum Night, which is held every year for a whole day (and night) at every museum and the custos prepare special workshops, tours and events. Our favorite is going to the school lessons from the past. We get to wear old school uniforms and the lessons are taught in the “old” language. We write with a quill pen and at every lesson there is someone who misbehave and have to kneel on the corn:).

Museums can be as fun as they are educative so don’t avoid them just because its name is a museum and you think of them as bored. Nowadays you can learn through visual, interactive presentations as well as through your own involvement. And what better way to remember than by trying it by yourself. Just make sure you have lots of time as you can easily get carried away.

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. Lao Tzu

In the summer time and during the school holidays, families are more likely to travel and take some vacation time together. But until then, you can learn about new countries and see how it would be to spent the summer there from the comfort of your home.

Pretend that you are traveling around the world. With some help from the parents, internet and atlas find your way around the globe. Where would you go? How would you travel?

Collect colorful pictures from magazines of different destinations and make your own photo album. Find out what there is to see and to do.

Discover different possibilities for different places. If you have lots of time, collect more data for each country that you would visit. Learn about everyday life of the nations and dig up interesting facts.

Besides passing time and have some fun doing it, you will discover what you like the most – what kind of places would you go and what kind of activities would you do. After that it will be easier to imagine your dream vacations or your future destinations.