Helping our Children to Succeed - Are we doing it the right way?

Parenting in 2015 has never been tougher. It seems that each and every day new challenges crop up and if you are like me, you probably stop for a moment at the end of the day, when the kids are in bed and ask…did I handle everything in the best way possible? Did I pass on atleast one piece of advice to my child that he/she can carry on to when he/she becomes a parent?

Earlier today I read a very interesting article titled:

4 Secrets To Your Child’s Success: Your Actions Are Louder Than Words

The article looked at our actions and frustrations as parents and then provided some valuable advice covering the four Cs - No, not coffee, computers, cash and competition but Curiosity, Communication, Compassion and Collaboration.

Here’s a small, paraphrased summary to give you an idea about what the article is all about.

1. Curiosity: We are all born curious, sadly this gets minimised or buried as we become busy, multitasking adults. When we aren’t curious about ourselves and others we risk losing important things such as perspective, discovery, collaboration and innovation. Curiosity spurs problem solving, critical thinking and a passion to learn – attributes which will help children become better leaders.

Children who are less-curious stand to join fewer social groups, read fewer books and make fewer new friends.

2. Communication: Success in life is dependent on a person being present, actively listening and asking questions to understand – all fundamental communication skills that are essential to succeed in life at any age.

Get curious with your kids and ask questions such as: who, what, where, how, and tell me more to help them better understand their world around them and to solve their own problems.

3. Compassion: Compassion creates opportunities for empathy and understanding, learning what makes other people tick, and to be open to new perspectives – it’s called being human. Allowing ourselves to be compassionate gives us the opportunity to spend more time being grateful and less time being judgemental.

4. Collaboration: Collaborating with others provides an opportunity for greater success. Teamwork in a family is so important, but how often do families act like a team? Today’s families are sadly full of conflict. Being able to work in a team is so important to achieving success in life and there’s no better place than in the family to learn this skill if it is properly nurtured in the home. Setting clear family expectations and allowing children to be part of the decision making process helps them to develop a better appreciation for their actions and to be better accountable for them.

Read the full article by Kirsten Taberner Siggins and Kathy Taberner at the following website: http://ow.ly/JDEUr