8 Things To Teach Your Child To Be

I have said it before and I will say it again, being a parent is hard work. Some may argue the hardest work. I find it fascinating the changes that happen when you become a parent. They place that sweet baby in your arms and immediately your heart and head are full of all your hopes and dreams for this little infant. You are overwhelmed with the weight of responsibility that you have as their parent. You can’t choose who they will grow to become, but here are 8 things you can teach and encourage your child to be from birth to adulthood.

I received samples and compensation for this post, all ideas and opinions are my own.

Be Kind- In a world full of so many who are hateful and full of judgment, we can teach our children to be kind. In their words. In their actions. In their hearts. We have to lead by example, and just think, if we all acted with the kindness we hope our children will exhibit, what a beautiful world this would become.

Be Helpful- Helping others is a natural result of being a kind person. We can teach our children to look for ways they can be helpful, whether that means toddling their dirty diaper to the bin after a bum change or constantly looking for those who need a hand or a smile on a hard day, there is always something they can do to help. Teaching them to help in small ways when they are young will inspire them to help in bigger ways as they grow.

Be Honest- Honesty is a trait that will serve your child through their entire life. Being honest is so much more complex than telling the truth when you do something wrong, it is showing others who you are at all times. It is about building trust and strong relationships, it is about knowing right from wrong and acting on it. It is not something we can rely on the world to teach our children.

Be Responsible- This one can be hard on a mom. As a mom I want my children to have the things they want, I know their intentions and I see the best in them, I want to pick up the balls they have been juggling when they drop them. But as a parent we have to teach our children to be responsible and them let them do it. If they fail, we have to let them learn the consequences of that. If they forget their homework, don’t run it to school. If they said they would be somewhere and they blow it off for something else, don’t cover for them.

Be Grateful- I think entitlement is a huge problem in our society. With every generation, mine included, it seems that we think that we deserve certain things. Bigger and better things all the time. Being able to see the blessings in your life and feel grateful for them builds real love and happiness. Someone who can be grateful for what they have at any given moment will have a content heart. Kids naturally compare themselves to those around them. We have to teach them to be grateful for all the amazing things in their life.

Be Loved- I am amazed at how this seeming basic instinct can get lost in parenting. When I was school teacher, I was heartbroken at the students who walked in my door never having felt what it was like to be loved. Showing and telling your children that you love them, no matter what choices or mistakes they make, can be the single most important thing you do as a parent. Having a child who feels loved and who knows how to love will build the future generation.

Be Smart- When I say be smart, I don’t mean get good grades. I mean be aware. Teach them to think before they act and before they speak. Teach them to think about others feelings. To think about consequences, good and bad. Teach them to choose friends wisely. Smart kids make great choices and learn from their mistakes. They try to be better.

Be Clean- Basic concepts of cleanliness seem so easy, but kids struggle with them! How many kids do you see picking their nose or leaving garbage laying around? Just the other day my son came home and told me about a kid who got in trouble at school for licking the tables. Helping your child learn how to keep themselves clean and stop spreading germs is one of the most useful lessons you can teach them. The number one way to stop the spread of germs is to teach kids to wash their hands.

The hardest part about teaching your kids to wash their hands is reminding them to do it a thousand times a day, am I right? It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I tell them, I always catch them leaving the bathroom or eating without washing! Here at our house we finally found a solution that is working! Check out the new Germ-X Omnipod™ Hand Hygiene System it eliminates up to 99.9% of germs. It is easy to use and leaves no mess for you to clean up. (How is it that kids can make such a huge mess by making their hands clean with soap and water?)

The Omnipod™ Manual 750ml dispenser is a small, sturdy and compact hand sanitizer dispenser that can fit pretty much anywhere. Ours hangs in the bathroom my kids use the most often. The dispenser can dispense liquid, soap or gel and is easy to use for children of any age. When my kids leave the bathroom they see the dispenser and remember to clean their hands. It makes me feel better about their health, as well as the health of the people they are around daily! You can get one for your house by using the code PROMOGERMX16 for 20% off of your purchase through the holidays.

What do you want to teach your child to be?