Guide your kid to good future
By Judi Light Hopson, Emma H. Hopson and Ted Hagen
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Would you like to improve your teen's chances of succeeding in life? If so, teach him or her how to tackle responsibility.
Encouraging young children and teenagers to acquire decent grades and clean their bedrooms is a solid starting point. But, to teach responsibility, you want to help your teen learn critical thinking skills.
If you push your children to stay ahead of their responsibilities, you will help them build inner strength to cope at every stage of life. Without these skills, life will start pushing them around.
Also, keeping your child busy — to help him avoid drugs or the wrong crowd — is not the same as teaching him responsibility.
Staying busy with sports or dance lessons is good. But teaching true responsibility requires helping a young person approach problems with confidence, stay on track when the going gets rough and feel the reward of conquering difficult situations.
Tell your child, "I want to turn you into a conqueror. I want you to approach life as a leader."
Responsibility demands that we learn to think ahead at all times, plan our steps to complete goals and notice how our actions will affect others.
All of us need leadership skills in whatever role we play. Any home that lacks leadership is in a lot of trouble.
Parents can help teens mature and master responsibilities by doing the following:
Teaching life skills and responsibility should include lots of praise for your child. Reward him or her with hugs and positive words. Brag to anyone who'll listen how proud you are of your child's maturity.
You want to help your little bird fly confidently from the nest. You want him or her to grow into a strong adult you can lean on one day.
Reach the authors through www.hopsonglobal.com.
