Children bond better and relate well with those whom they feel safe, secure and comfortable to be around with.
A continuous act of instilling fear in your child or ward through your choice of words, actions, behavior, drives them away gradually, thereby creating a rift between you and them as they feel you pose to be a danger to them just as a scarecrow.
Your child doesn’t feel the need to see you as a danger to their well-being because they always look up to you and want you to be worthy of their emulation through your behavior, character and actions.
They first reflect on what they have learnt from home to others that’s why it’s important for parents to lay the foundation of being a role model to their children by setting high standards for yourselves for your children to follow.
Children are very observant. They watch everything around them, especially their parents, that’s how they learn, you should incorporate in them a positive attitude, character and behavior by showing them through your actions, thereby giving them a positive experience to learn from, because what they learnt from you parents at home that’s what they offer outside.
Parents can be role models to their children by;
BEING A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR THEIR CHILD
Your child should have this recurring assurance that you will always be there for them by showing them unending love not substituting for materials possession, being supportive and warm, giving attention to their opinions and being sensitive to their well-being as this bossy their emotional and mental health.
RESIST THE USE OF CONSTANT VIOLENCE AS CORRECTION
Constant use of violence on a child can affect the child’s mental health which may result in a child having to behave violently as he or she gets older because the child will feel that violence is the only way to resolve issues. Rather set rules and be consistent in enforcing them. Let the child know that every action has its consequences be it good or bad.
HELP YOUR CHILD THRIVE
Build your child’s self-confidence and self-esteem by respecting their opinions and giving them room to be a little independent in his actions, letting him make decisions and also help in setting limits to what he can do and not what he can achieve for him to have a sense of direction and responsibility. Encourage your child to self-Discovery and him/her to promote their strength and be productive.
GIVE YOUR CHILD POSITIVE EXPERIENCE TO LEARN FROM
Be involved in your child’s life; maintain a good open line of communication to build a good relationship and connection with your child. Always pay attention and give a listening ear, never cut them off or rebuke them when they ask questions out of their curiosity, always have something to say even if you don’t know the answer to the questions. This helps the child in developing social and interpersonal skills and also helps integrate their memories.
REWARD YOUR CHILD’S EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE THEM
Giving your child rewards for good performances encourages them to do more and also giving words of encouragement when they fail a task scolding them when they fail in a task demoralizes their spirit. Don’t use harsh words on them or compare them to their mates, let them know how unique they are in their own ways.
CONCLUSION
Parents should learn how to walk the walk and show their children through their actions on what they should offer outside. They could be role models or scarecrows to their children depending on what they protest. Remember, relationship with your child is a foundation of his/her relationship with others, if you instill fear on them, they will also to other by becoming bullies, but if you instill love and good morals they will offer the same to others
How do you want your child to perceive you, a role model or a scarecrow??