GroSource GroKidz

Better Parenting in Five Minutes or Less

2009-07-25T11:19:00.001-07:00

GroKids Introduction

2009-06-28T18:06:00.001-07:00

I Wanna Be Just Like You

2009-01-21T20:36:00.001-08:00

You're just like your father; you act just like your mother; or you get that from your father. How many times have you heard a statement like that about you or anyone else? Well the truth is a portion of your behaviors and habits were facilitated by your parents or care providers. Who would you most likely learn from other than your parents, grandparents, or others who you have had meaningful roles in your rearing. Look back far enough and deep enough and you'll find characteristics you've inherited from significant people in your life.

The big question now is what are you deleting and what are you passing on to your children. As parents or care provider's we have to be aware of our behavior towards and around our children. If you're a cussing like a sailor, the probability is high you're going to develop a little cussing sailor. In a child's case, your actions definitely speak louder than your words. This goes for other adult worthy entertainment or activities such as music, television programming, and the company you keep. Your child is always watching and learning. We need to realize the environment which we create affects a child's perception and most of all their behavior. Don't ever forget a child is looking for acceptance and confirmation of who they are.

Who doesn't want to feel accepted? It is a need wired into the brain almost as important as food and shelter. Your child is constantly reading his or her environment and is rapidly building a plan on how to fit into the new world you're creating. It should be obvious that your child doesn't want to feel left out. So, in order to keep with the flow of things, your child will emulate you or someone really close to them. What do you think your child sees and hears when you're enjoying your favorite movies and singing songs with strong messages of misconduct and disrespect? Your opinions and ideals on issues such as education or relationships also have an influence on your child's perception.

Your child is a sponge soaking up all kind of information from everywhere and every one, the information mostly comes from you and your actions. Whatever you allow a sponge to soak up is what you're going to get back when it's squeezed. Once your child has made the choice of the role they perceive they have to play expect they will play it well. As they get older, they will seek to confirm their thoughts by creating their own environment validating the belief system you helped to create. Expect they will defend their beliefs and support their thoughts with all the available tools out there like the media, friends, and circumstances. If your children have past the stage of developing their personal belief of themselves, look hard enough and you most likely will see traces of yourself.

Take the time to better yourself it's worth your children's future don't you think.

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Don’t Hamper a Child’s Natural Instinct to Learn

2008-11-30T17:58:00.001-08:00

Is a child's aptitude predetermined at birth or do parents need to take responsibility for developing a child's ability to learn? Children seem to retain and retrieve information faster than super computers. As parents, we have a lot to do with the information that goes into these precious future adults. The mantra garbage in garbage out (GIGO) shouldn't be left to just computer programming it holds true to little minds as well.

As adults, we forget we are the result of years of experiences and programming. What you say to your children today plays a part in how they approach life and learning. Think about your reaction when your child starts exploring around the house and getting into areas and things, they shouldn't. Some parents immediately react with a stern no don't do that, or no don't touch that. Other parents may shout the same followed by a quick smack. Take a moment and reflect back to a time when the words and actions of your parents meant a lot to you. If you can't recall for whatever reason, remember how it felt to have someone you admired be disappointed in you.

As your four-year-old child rips through the bathroom cabinet covering the bathroom with powder because it looks like snow, take a deep breath, and look at the situation from different points of view. First don't worry about the mess it can be cleaned your child's development outweighs the thought of sending them to Siberia. Take the time to realize your words and actions will be stored into this small super computer once you let your emotions go. You will not be able to retrieve the experience, change, or delete it. There will be no pop ups saying "Are you sure this is the course of action you would like to take?", or "Your actions may be damaging to your child's development!"

Your child is looking up at you with a look of confusion and small hint of fear. The confusion is coming from the fact you're not showing the same joy of playing in the snow. The fear is probably coming from the look on your face or the vein throbbing in your neck. Realize your child is exploring and investigating and doesn't really know the rules. Instead of taking the opportunity to discipline your child into submission take the time to help shape your child's thought process. Don't kill their natural instinct to explore, imagine, and creatively learn. Open a healthy dialogue and take the opportunity to help form a responsible adult who knows how to make good decisions.

Immediately disciplining a child when they are exploring, experimenting, and just being curious sends a message that being inquisitive is unacceptable and possibly dangerous. We do have to set boundaries for our children, but we don't want to stifle their natural instinct to test boundaries. How many times is a child told no or don't do that. After awhile the thought of what can I do has to cross a child's mind? Developing boundaries are important it keeps order not to mention keeps them safe, over developing boundaries can hinder your child's initiative to learn. Your child will love the time spent with you and appreciate you taking the time to help them understand how things work.

You don't want your child to have an unhealthy fear of learning outside conventional methods. You never know you might have a little entrepreneur who needs your understanding. Remember children are just little people in training.

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