What do you think are the three most important principles for raising good children?

Answer 1

Love, respect and discipline.

They cannot love or respect you until you show it to them.

Kids need to learn that there are consequences for their actions.

Answer 2

Honesty
To show respect for others (which leads to tolerance)
To have confidence in oneself

I haven't mentioned love because that is not, in my book, a 'principle.. If you are asking about raising strong and successful children, then I think the three principles above should set a child up well for life.

Answer 3

I think all the answers you have recieved are great. The 1 not mentioned that I would add is consequences. By this I mean that it is important for children to be responsible for their actions. No matter how much love, patience, understanding, ect we give our children there will be something down the road that they make a bad choice on, and if we follow the thoughts of alot of parents these days and try to blame someone else for our childrens problems, then the kids learn nothing. It is part of making them responsible people.

Answer 4

Love - This should be the driving force of all you do in your child's life. Without it, everything is meaningless.

Discipline - Correcting and training a child to do right, even when you're not there to witness it. (This is key to a child internalizing values.) As the person above me stated, consequences are hugely important. Nobody in life escapes them. It's important to teach your child this at an early age by allowing them to experience "cause and effect." It's one of the most loving things you can do for your child. (Hard and painful, for both child and parent...but essential.)

Consistency - Everything you teach your child, and in every instance where discipline is required, this is one of the most important concepts. A child will only grow up confused if mixed messages are given or if discipline is administered in a spotty way. Also, you teach your child to be a manipulator if consistency isn't employed. Children learn very quickly how to play one authority figure against another if they're allowed to get away with harmful behaviors or attititudes.

I have to add this last one because it's so very important.

Modeling - There's nothing that teaches a child more readily how to behave and speak than his/her parents. It behooves parents to teach and train their child by first modeling it to them. Imagine a child's confusion and resentment if a parent's motto is: do as I say, not as I do.

Answer 5

Children emulate the behaviour that they are shown, so I think the best way to raise good children is to act in the way that you want them to act. Being just, fair, kind and respectful (not just infront of your children, but all the time) is the best start for raising good children.

I include in this answer one to your previous question... Around where I live there is a high rate of families on benefits not because they need to be, but simply because they would rather get paid for sitting around the house than going out to work. When a child is raised around parents who couldn't give a **** about anyone but themselves, the child will think that this behaviour acceptable, and when they are not shown any other way (by parents, teachers and/or any other role model), their behaviour can spiral out of control resulting in anti-social behaviour.

Answer 6

Determination, Information, Support

Determination (persistence). You are the parent and your child needs to know that. You need to stand firm and be persistent and consistent to give your children the guidance that they need

Information. Read heaps of books. Visit the library. Talk to other parents. Talk to your own parents and grandparents. Do parenting courses. Read read read and talk talk talk and listen listen listen.

Support. Join support groups in real life and online. Set up a support network with friends, colleagues, family. Prioritise your family first and get others to share the parenting of your children. It takes a village to raise a child.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Love
Discipline
Educate

Answer 8

Teaching them respect, for them selves, other people and belongings (material things). Showing them you love them always even when they have made a mistake. Not really sure on a third maybe a stable/happy home life, one where a child can feel free to express them sleves (say what they feel good or bad).

Answer 9

Love in the family (between the mother and father and the kids)
Trust in the family (same as above)
simple and easy rules in the family (the more complicated the rules the less interesting it is to listen to you)

Answer 10

We have 3 basic rules in our home.

1. Be kind and gentle.
2. Be respectful.
3. Be responsible.

I think that pretty much covers everything.

Answer 11

You only need one: respect. The rest follows. When i say respect I mean the parent respecting the child as a human being.