I believe that every parent wants to raise their child to be confident and independent and that bringing up a happy and self-reliant child is the highest parenting goal. But parenting is hard! It is also true that children do not wake up in the morning and choose to frustrate their parents. I would highly recommend the book The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey for your home library! This collection of stories is a great starting point for parents and children to address so many issues!
The very first story is called: Bored! Bored! Bored! and encourages children to understand that they are responsible for themselves. There are also notes for parents that includes questions for discussion and tips for problem-solving!
The 7 Habits:
Be Proactive – learn how to manage feelings and be responsible.
Begin with the End in Mind – set goals, and be persistent.
Put First Things First – understand priorities, creating plans and reaching goals.
Think Win-win – build empathy, and understand it is crucial to make others happy as well as yourself.
Seek First to Understand and Then to Be Understood – the importance of good communication skills!
Synergize – working together, identifying individual strengths and the strengths of others.
Sharpen the Saw – encourages self-care and balance.
Every choice a parent makes when raising a child has its pros and cons, but building your child to be self-reliant and resilient is a gift! Children who have an understanding of these habits will find making their own positive choices much easier as they grown up.
