Are you the parent of a 1-6th grade Child? What is the biggest mistake parents of these children are making?

Answer 1

I have two school aged children. While I'm definitely not a perfect parent, I see several parents who allow their kids to do homework in front of the television or who just don't supervise pretty much anything their kids do. Also, they believe that saying, "no, no, honey! Don't do that!" is punishment.

It seems they're also taught not to take responsibility for their actions. It's always someone else's fault. The teacher's because they failed in science, the other parent for not miraculously knowing their kid needed a lunch or dinner, etc. Few of these kids have any respect for anything or anyone else.

Many of these kids are handed what they want, regardless of need. They're not expected to work for anything. It seems kids' self worth comes from the material objects they can amass not from anything they have personally achieved.

And last, but I'm sure not least, kids are encouraged to check out from reality by sitting in front of a television, playing a video game or messing around on the computer. Very rarely, unless one of the parents are irritated with their kids, are they encouraged to pick up a book or get outside and stretch their bodies and imagination.

Answer 2

Telling them that they're the greatest thing since sliced bread (giving them false self-esteem) when the kid's just breathing and walking around. Recently I read an interview with the CEO of a major company who said that she couldn't believe how many people have cried in her office-- they grew up with their parents telling them they could do no wrong, and when they finally got into the real world and their bosses told them how it was, they couldn't handle it. Parents need to know that kids need to make mistakes and get a little hurt to grow up well.
The parenting book "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee" is great. I'm not Jewish, but the lessons still apply.

Answer 3

Kids don't spend enough time outside nowadays. Now it's all about the TV, the computer, the cell phone, anything you can plug in and be entertained by. I don't care if it's educational. Your kid should be outside at least 2-3 hours a day....I mean I'm not that old, in my early 20's, and I remember a far different lifestyle when I was younger. I notice that kids these days don't appreciate nature, games, all of the simple pleasures that my generation and earlier generations enjoyed when we were little. (And I grew up in the city, so I'm not a country bumpkin.) I think it makes a big difference in the kid's character and it's just plain healthy.

Answer 4

biggest mistake? lack of consistency in discipline and home life.

kids do not need TVs in their rooms. they need to socializing with their family.

kids need to be talked to and heard. sitting down to dinner as a family and talking about each person's day.

setting aside time for home work every day which must be done before anything else.

kids need to be responsible for chores in the house. not for allowance because that's what each individual in a family does as a family unit. they all work together to have a great, clean, fun, nurturing home.

they need to feel they can talk to their parents without being yelled at. kids want to open up to their parents ... most time they are afraid to.

kids don't want THINGS ... they want rules, limits and their parents.

Answer 5

All parents make mistakes... but some of the big ones I see in parents of young kids are:
-Complacency, like that "oh, it's just a phase" thing, instead of actually ADDRESSING problems.
-Healthy stuff, we're not active enough with our kids, and we don't feed our kids the right foods. We set them up for the rest of their lives, and too many of us don't teach our kids to be healthy. They just released in a study that 90% of parents with overweight kids said that their kids were the right weight or even UNDERWEIGHT. We need to learn what's healthy, and teach our kids what that is.
-Discipline and work ethic... this kind of contradicts with my next one, but not really... We need to teach our kids to be responsible and hard workers... but...
-Unstructured play time (not TV or video games)... Small children need to have time to just romp around and play. But they need to have those times set aside from the times that they have responsibilities... and taught the difference

Answer 6

Not keeping your child interested in school. I have him read books of his choice so that he likes it. We do science stuff outside together. We bird watch. I try to make life a learning experience. School isn't just about books. Don't push your child if they aren't good in a subject, if they get a half way decent passing grade, then fine. Encourage them to help them succeed in what they like.

Answer 7

7th grade, but I think a big mistake parents make is not being consistent! Children need this!

Answer 8

mistakes are made, that is the learning factor in parenting. i believe all parents do their best to raise their kids right, and one child to another are different, so a rule for one child might not be the best for another child.....

Answer 9

Not making sure they are taught spelling. Like in a spelling bee of our day. My kids are in 8th grade and it's amazing the word that they still ask me how it's spelled! I knew those words MUCH younger. These days, they barely teach phonics.
I was disgusted with that aspect of their schools. So, either make sure the school teaches it, teaches it and you follow up.. or you teach it yourself. That's my 2 cents.

Answer 10

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