-Guest Blog Post-

7 Ways To Prepare Your Child For A Tough World

As a child, did you always find it a little frustrating when your parents would say something like…“I’m just trying to protect you.”

I know I always got slightly peeved by that comment – not because I did not want my parents to protect me, but…

I always thought, how do they know? I see the same world they do and I think I am already doing what is best for me.

But, now that we are parents, we are better able to see it through their eyes.

It is a big, tough world out there and our children really do need all the help they can get in preparation for one day going out on their own into that big world.

While they might think they know it all, they don’t. In fact, neither do we as parents, but we still have a few more years of experience under our belts.

So, how do you give your child advice that will prepare them for the tough world right outside their window?

Let me give you some insight…

1. Give them creative tasks. By giving your child different creative tasks, and nurturing creativity within the home you will improve their problem solving and analytical skills. While those skills might not sound very useful in a child, when it comes to balancing their checkbook and filing taxes later on, your child will thank you. Try DIY projects and other arts and crafts with your child such as paper crafting like origami, painting, or simply making their own masterpiece using stickers, buttons, and other artistic accessories.

2. Give them a taste of reality. Reality is inevitable and when it hits, often times it hits hard… Reality is not always getting your way, buying whatever you want when you want, or having the newest iPhone at age 7. While it is important to shower your kids with love, and sometimes that includes gifts, it is also important to teach them that you have to work hard to earn the nice things you want. Not everything is handed to you in the real world.

3. Teach them to be adaptable. Have you heard the saying, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit?” My family loved that one… While it bugged me as a child, in my adult life, I have found it to be painstakingly true. Let’s face it – sometimes life just sucks. You are dealt the cards and there is no option to draw again. Teach your child to be adaptable. As an adult, there will be plenty of situations you don’t care to be in, but you just have to do it.

4. Practice gratitude with them. One of the most valuable traits someone can have is to be grateful. Teach them how to be thankful for what they have and how to appreciate the good in every situation. While this behavior might sound innate, it is actually learned.

5. Teach them compassion. A simple act of compassion for others goes along way. By teaching your child compassion, you are preparing them for any life situation. This behavior will also flourish and spread to others – as they show compassion, they will receive compassion. We want people to be compassionate toward our child, therefore, we need to teach our children to be compassionate toward them.

6. Hold them responsible for their actions. Responsibility is a rude awakening for most young people. Especially as a child, it can be hard to comprehend that your actions will have reactions. And, unfortunately, in the real world, sometimes the consequences of your actions can be great. Teach them how to be responsible for what they have done – and furthermore, teach them right from wrong so they do not often find themselves having to own up to negative actions.

7. Instill basic life skills, both in and out of the house. Basic life skills are a necessity – from cleaning their room to holding the door open for others to microwaving popcorn. It is amazing the simple life tasks that some kids never learn just due to the laziness of their parents. Don’t let your child be the 22-year-old who has never turned on the washing machine.

As a mother of autistic child, teaching my child independent skills – home living, personal care, interpersonal skills, has been challenging and a long process. If you share similar story, asking for a help isn’t easy for many parents. However, information is your friend. Asking for an advice from professionals, talking to other parents, participating in parenting workshops will help prepare your kids for a big, crazy and tough world.

Those little chubby cheeked babies and sassy teenagers of ours cannot wait to be adults, but, they will be entering a sad reality if we do not do our part and properly prepare them ahead of time.

Encourage your child, work with your child, and be patient with them as they learn what it means to be a “grown up.”

 

About the Guest blogger:

Annabelle Carter Short is a writer and a seamstress of more than 5 years. She splits her time between London and Los Angeles and writes for Wunderlabel. Annabelle is a mother and enjoys making crafts with her two children, Leo (age 9) and Michelle (age 11). Annabelle likes to write about crafting, sewing, and parenting. You can visit her blog to learn more about her work.

Guest Blog @ Relaxed Parenting by Annabelle from London. 

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