What is the best method to raise a child? What do you use?

Question

I'd prefer no references to books, just your personal tips from experience, but if you have to reference child-rearing manuals, that's fine too. Thanks.

Answer 1

"Spare the rod spoil the child."

Keeping your child healthy and active is very useful to young growing minds from toddlers to teenagers. Be sure to set limitations and discipline when necessary, children need boundaries. Be loving and supportive too, encourage them to succeed. Also be sure to cook a healthy well balanced diet. And let a kid be a kid for the appropriate age. And teenagers need love, support, encouragement and discipline. Those last 4 years are very crucial to a young adult so make it count. Keep them busy working, sports and school activities. Snoop in their business and keep up with what their doing which will discourage alcohol, sex and drug use. Reward good behavior and discipline or discourage bad behavior. Most importantly set good examples for them to follow because kids notice.

Be sure to communicate with your child encourage them to be open and honest with you. Be sure not to be judgemental or critical unless your child is in danger. Importantly, laugh with your child, grow with your child, learn with your child and you will and you will have succeeded in being a parent. Parenting is not always easy so relax, be patient and be confident that your child will grow into a well-rounded adult equipped with the knowledge and tools that he needs to be successful in todays society. Be sure to save as much as possible for college too! Education, Morals and Values will take them a long way.

Answer 2

In all honesty, there is no set rules we should follow. Each child is different as well as each set of parents. Most of us do what comes naturally, and if we have no clue, we get advice from those that have beent there and done that. I am a mother of five and to be honest, I learned alot from trial and error. If you spoil them too much, they learn to expect things later in life. On the other hand, if you teach them young the value of a dollar and saving it in their piggy bank for something they really want, they learn to be really appreciative of what they do get and know that it takes work to get money. That was a big one that I learned the hard way. We spoiled the heck out of our daughter and oldest son until we realized we were creating monsters. The next biggest thing I learned was laughter....you have to be able to laugh at just about everything. If you have the mindset that "things could always be worse", it'll help get you through the not so fun times in parenting. Love and patience are the most obvious, of course, so I won't get into those. A tough one that I still struggle with is tolerance and the teenage years. I feel terrible when I tell people that I love my children but I don't like them at certain times. Teenagers are small adults who think they have it all figured out and you can preach until the cows come home, but they are insistant upon doing things their own way. Often leading to big mistakes and going in a completely different direction than which you envisioned their futures to be. Like I said TOLERANCE.

That's about the jist of it. I have stories that would probably double you over with laughter, but this was about method, and I've used many of them combined...lucky for me, it worked.

Answer 3

Your child will follow what you do and make similar choices -- therefore the best way to raise a child is to live your life in a way that you think provides a model example.

If you want exercise and healthy eating to be a choice your child makes, then cook healthy meals at home and go for a family walk every evening after dinner. If you want to pass on good money habits, have a jar inthe middle of the dinner table and have your child watch you put savings into it, or one jar set aside for charity and you can decide that one night a week instead of going out to dinner you will give that money to the poor (put it in the jar) and stay home to eat veggies and rice (the Kennedys used to do this...)

So lead by example, trust your gut because you know what is right for your child and give them more love and affection than you think they can handle!

Answer 4

I agree - LOVE is the most important thing. That sometimes means hard choices, and doing what is best, not easiest.

I HATE CHILD BOOKS. Your child is an individual, not a mathematical model.

For what it is worth, and mine seems to have turned out OK-ish;
Trust your instincts. You have several billion years of evolution behind you.
Don't spend too much time comparing progress with other children (unless yours is in front - of course!)
Set clear rules and boundaries - AND STICK TO THEM.
Don't go for fads.
Your child does not need therapy.
Smacking does not make you the devil, just make sure it is punishment and not revenge.

Probably most important of all
Children are children, they are not tiny adults. They have a totally different thought process, and value scale.
You are the parent, you are in charge.

Sorry, forgot to add
PRAISE WHERE IT'S DUE. MAKE IT SINCERE.

Answer 5

Our method has been 1.) A stay-at-home-Mom 2.) Talk to them as if they are really people 3.) Lots of love and attention 4.) CONSISTENT (not frequent) discipline 5.) Read to them daily 6.) Let them explore (with guidence) 7.) Have a "flexible" routine (kids feel more secure when they know what happens next, but be open for opportunities that may arise)

Note: These are in no particular order of importance.

Answer 6

My approach to raising my kids is patience, consistancy, honesty, and love. I've never spanked my kids, I prefer to talk to them instead. Not to say that they don't need disciplince, because they do. I take away privileges.
The most important thing in my opinion is to be consistant. You can not let them get away with something once, then turn around and get on to them the next time.
My girls are all teenagers now, all in the accelerated program at school, play sports, and do volunteer work.

Answer 7

LOVE LOVE LOVE, stop behavior problems immediately remember what is cute in a one year old usually isn't so cute when they are five. Try your hardest to stay patient and don't be afraid to apologize to your child if you lose your temper or make a mistake.

Answer 8

I think your heart is the best place to start. Children are generally happy. Listen to your heart what you think is best and remember there are no manuals that come with children. Everything is opinion and practice.

Answer 9

different things work for different kids, so just look for what works and stick to it. if your child responds to timeouts, use that...if it stops working, try another approach. just make sure they know you love them and do your personal best.

Answer 10

love, support, trust, honesty, hard work, and loyalty. all the things i want him to have from me and for him to have for everyone else.