10 Things You Should Say to Your Children
Our children are so precious, we need to let them know just how important they are to us every day! Of course there are a million and one important things that you should say to your children. However, that list may be a little long! Here are what I would consider to be the top ten things we should say to our children.
1. I Love You
Tell your children you love them, often! “I Love You! No matter what, I will always love you.” A parent’s love is unconditional. You children will love you unconditionally also. Good parent or bad, children love their parents. They need to know that no matter what they do, you will always love them. Tell them you love them everyday!
2. I'm Proud of You
When your children so something they are proud of, let them know that you are proud of them too! Your children need to know you are proud of them for their accomplishments, not matter how small. They look up to you and you need to give them encouragement. If they know you are proud of them, it will help build their confidence in themselves and nurture their self-esteem.
3. I'm Sorry
Say you're sorry when needed. Don’t be hesitant to tell your children you’re sorry. If for some reason you say or do something that you really shouldn't have, tell your child, you are are sorry. Some people think that saying your sorry is a sign of weakness, I don’t agree. I think it is a sign of strength. You are being strong enough to admit you made a mistake and apologize for it. Your children should learn to apologize when they do or say something hurtful. Remember, they learn from your example.
4. It's Ok to Cry
Let them know that everyone cries sometime. You can cry when you are sad or when you are hurt. Crying is a natural response to pain, either physical or emotional. Everyone cries from time to time, it is a healthy release of emotion. You shouldn't keep your emotions all bottled up inside. Crying doesn't make you a wimp or weak. Tell your children that sometimes even big people cry.
5. You Made a Mistake, It's ok.
Help them learn from their mistakes. Tell them that no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Don’t make them feel like they have to be perfect. That puts too much pressure on them. Try to teach them to learn from their mistakes. Tell them of some mistakes you have made, let them know that you are not perfect either. Try to also teach them to learn from others mistakes, don’t wait to make the same mistake themselves.
6. It Was Just An Accident
Accidents happen. Don’t punish your child for something that they did not intentionally do. Explain to them why it happened and how to keep it from possibly happening again. I can remember my parents saying, “It was an accident, you are not in trouble, you didn't do it on purpose.” I felt bad for my friends that would get yelled at and punished for something that they didn't mean to do. I always tried to remember this when I was raising my children.
7. I'm Listening to You
Listen to your children! One of my biggest pet peeves is to hear a child continually saying, “mama, mama, mama” and the mother not paying any attention. We teach our children not to interrupt when someone is talking, but then we never listen to what they have to say. When your child is trying to tell you something, take interest in it. Show them that you care about what they have to tell you. If you will listen to them, they will learn that they can wait until you are finished talking and you will listen to what they have to say. Did you ever wonder why some children don’t listen to their parents? Maybe it’s because the parents don’t really listen to their children.
8. It's Ok To Be Scared
Find our what scares your children. Let them know that it is ok to be scared sometimes. Everyone is afraid at one time or another. We usually fear the unknown and there are many things that children haven't experienced yet. Learn what it is that scares them and try to help them overcome their fear. Remember too, that sometimes a little fear can be a good thing. It keeps you cautious.
9. What Do You Think?
Ask your child's opinion. Let them know that their opinion matters. This will also help you get some insight on how they feel about decisions that are being made. This doesn't mean they are going to be the decision maker, it just means that you value their opinion. This will help them feel like an important part of the family.
10. You Did a Good Job
Praise your children. No matter how small the task, let your children know when they have done a good job. Your children need your approval when they do something right. Brag on them when they deserve it! Confidence building is an important part of growing up.
Check Out Some of These Books
It never hurts to get a little information or maybe just a few ideas from the "experts". Lord knows, our kids didn't come with instructions!
Books on Raising Your Children
You May Also Enjoy:
- 5 Things You Shoud Never Say to Your Children
All of us have said things that we wish we had not. Our children are precious gifts from God, but they can “push our buttons” sometimes. - How To Take Better Pictures of Your Kids
Anyone who has children has taken tons of photos of them. You want to catch all of those cute little things they do. Taking really good pictures of little children is no easy task. I hope to give you some ideas here to help you take better pictures o - Who Is In Control of What Your Children Eat?
I know it is easy to just say yes, when the kids want pizza or hamburgers, but I think we say yes too often! Parents need to take control again. With childhood obesity a growing problem, we as parents, are the only one who can prevent it from happeni
© 2012 Sheila Brown
Related
Comments
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Thank you, Susie! Yes, kind words and words of encouragement can really help shape our children's lives for the better. Thank you for stopping by and the vote up! Have a terrific Tuesday! :)
I so agree with you, Sheila. Children need to hear those words from the adults in their lives. Words really do matter, they help shape our babies.
Voted up!
Thank you for the useful tips, Sheila. To confess the truth I have never said that it is ok to be scared, and now I see that I should find out what my kids are afraid of :)
Great Hub! I remember when I was a child, even when i did something that was bad- I was always told that they loved me. no matter what. I have taken this into my parenting, and even though I sometimes forget to stop what I am doing to listen, I have made a conscience effort to change that bad habit of mine. You are very right- they watch us and learn from us, we have to set the standards. Thanks for the share
Great advice here for parents! As a teacher, it's great to hear only positive things to say to children. They need positive reinforcement and should be given opportunities for their voices to be heard and listened to. Maybe as adults we are guilty of being 'on their cases' too much, although in an education environment there must be order and rules to follow as you know!
Build trust, confidence and empower our youth, they are the future!
I agree with your list two and ten were sadly missing from my childhood, but I made sure they were in my own children's
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Thank you for your very kind comment! :)
An absolutely amazing hub! The best one is to say "I'm sorry". We forget that from time to time... After yelling at my children just because I'm tired, that actually takes an "I'm sorry":)
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Thank you Deborah! We all could use some of these as reminders. :)
Perfect! Every parent should post this list on their refrigerator!!
Valuable thoughts here which parents should apply and I so agree it shows proper parenting.
No wonder this hub earned so many comments. This is definitely a great hub and as a parent myself, I do agree and learned a lot from it. Keep it up and hope to read more useful and interesting hubs from you...
Age advise and lovely pictures! Getting mad at a child for having an accident is stupid. And I once knew a woman who was very stingy with praise, she thought praise would give a child a "big head." That struck me as so sad, her kids were grown and I thought how they had not heard how wonderful they were from their own mother.
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Hi Patricia! I'm so sorry for not replying to your comment until now. It has been crazy busy here and I have been taking a little break from here for a while. Thank you so much for your kind comment and share! Have a wonderful day! :)
Well said Sheila.
I do not know why I have not commented on this before today. What we say to our children impacts them in so many ways. I can think of times when my daughter came back to me and thanked me for teaching her this or that about surviving emotionally.
You could not have singled out any 10 things more carefully than you have.
Voted up shared and woo hoo!!
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Hello georgescifo! Some parents just need a little reminding of what is important. I hope those are the ones that find and read my hub. Thank you for your kind comment. :)
Amazing hub. A must read hub for all parents!!
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Hello Denizee! It's true that children are gifts from God and parenting is the hardest job we will ever have. Some people need to take parenting more seriously than they do. Thank you so much for your kind words and votes! Have a wonderful day! :)
Wonderful write - Children are the most precious gifts God can give to us and parents need to realize they need nurturing, love, attention along with discipline that shows them how to correct their mistakes. Voted up - Children would grow up more balanced in life if more parents took your advice.
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Hello duffsmom! I just go crazy when I see a little child, pulling on mama's hand, saying mama, mama, mama. Yes this is rude, however, if "mama" would take just a moment to see what the child wants, she probably wouldn't have that problem. One of my grandsons is going through that stage right now and my son is handling it very well. Thank you for stopping in and our kind comment. Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hi Audrey! I'm so glad you enjoyed my hub. Thank you for your kind comment and shares, it is greatly appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
Excellent Hub. The one you listed about listening to your children is my pet peeve. I cannot understand why parents do not take the time to listen to their children and then wonder why there are problems. Well done.
Such a great hub! Sharing everywhere!
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Hi Shyron! I'm sure your children know how much you love them and I am sure you are a wonderful mom! Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Have a wonderful day! :)
I hope and I think my three sons know how much I love and appreciate them. Great hub.
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Thank you so much, Jo. Our children are a special blessing from God and we need to treat them as such. We need to show them how much we love them everyday! Our love, support and respect will mold children who also show love, support and respect to others. Thank you so much for your kind comment and support. I hope you and your family have a very blessed day! :)
What a wonderful message and beautifully written. I was so
blessed reading this. Voted up +++ shared & tweeted.
Beautiful children. Many blessings for you and your family. :-)
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Hello Kasman! I didn't know you were expecting, this is wonderful news! It's true what the Lord said, we do hold the power of life and death in the tongue. Our words can be an uplifting blessing or a sharp edged sword. Keep talking to your unborn baby girl, she hears your voice and already feels your love! I am getting goosebumps too! I am so happy for you!
Thank you for your awesome comment and I am so glad to hear your good news. Be sure to let us know when the big day is here!
I loved this hub sgbrown! I think you're right on with your assessments about a child's psyche needing nourishing words growing up. The bible talks about having the power of life and death in the tongue. I'm already telling my baby girl in the womb how much I love her and I can't wait to hold her coming out. I get goosebumps even talking about it.
Voting this way up and sharing! Heartfelt and great!
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Hello Deborah-Diane! Little words of encouragement and love mean so much to our children. They need to hear that we love them and support them every day! Thank you for stopping by and your kind comment, as well as the vote up! It is always greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful day! :)
What a wonderful article. I agree that these are all things that we should say to our children on a regular basis. These are the words that will encourage our children to open up to us and trust us. Voted up!
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Hello Indian Chef! Thank you for your kind words and votes, I always enjoy hearing from you! Have a wonderful day! :)
This is very good advise for the parents. When children growing up esp in teen age they are confused and rebellious as they are neither counted in kids nor in adults. Voting it up and awesome.
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Thank you Suzanne! I agree, all little girls should be told they are pretty. That was one of Marilyn's best quotes! Thank you for your comment and votes! Have a beautiful day! :)
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Thank you Suzette! I'm sure that as a teacher you have seem both good and bad parents. I hope to at least make some of these parent stop and think about what their children need from them. Thank you for your kind comments. All our grandchildren are so precious to us and we, as grandparents, still have a lot to do with raising and supporting them in their activities.
Thank you for stopping by and your very kind comments! I hope you have a wonderful day! :)
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Thank you Lori! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your visit and comment! :)
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Hello Shobha Khokhar. We all make blunders from time to time as parents, but as long as we think about what is best for our children and tell them we love them and support them, we have done good as parents. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Have a great day! :)
Great ideas, and remember:
"No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they're pretty, even if they aren't." ~ Marilyn Monroe
Voted up and beautiful! :)
I can't agree with you more on this hub! I can't tell you how many times, as a teacher, I've given this advice to parents. You are so spot on! I bet you and your husband were wonderful parents. Your grandchildren are just adorable. Such sweet precious children from the photos.
Thank you so much for lending your parenting advice to others. So well done and well said.
Loved it ;-)
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Hello Sueswan. I'm sorry your dad didn't tell you these things when you were small. Sometimes men just can't express themselves and get embarrassed by saying anything a little "mushy". But you know that he always loved you and was always proud of you. I'm glad he was able to let you know before he died. But I'm sure you always knew it in your heart! Thank you for stopping by and the votes and share, it is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
Hi Sgbrown,
I don't have children but growing up my father didn't do half the things mentioned on the list. Not long before he died he apologized and told me he loved me and was proud of me.
Voted up, awesome and sharing.
Take care :)
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Hi Sid! Excellent points here, I agree completely! We do need to encourage learning and we don't want our children to think we know it all. Although, our daughter who is 25, still thinks her daddy is Superman! He loves it! We want to encourage our children to always strive to do better and learn more. This is a wonderful comment and I really appreciate your input, thank you! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello Shanmarie! I guess some parents think they are above apologizing to their children. I think that just means that they are the ones who have self confidence issues. I agree it helps teach your children to be responsible for the actions and apologizing to your children when needed, teaches your children compassion and empathy as well. Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a great comment, it is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello Dawn! It is always good to praise your children and give them encouragement. It helps give them self confidence which is so important in growing up. I don't understand why some parents think they should not apologize to their children when needed. I think in those cases, the parents are the ones that have little self confidence. None of us are perfect parents, but just taking the time to read this hub tells me you are a great mom and care about how you are raising your kids. I'm sure you are a wonderful parent! Thank you for stopping by and commenting, it is always appreciated. Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello georgescifo! I'm sure you are a wonderful dad! Just the simple fact that you took the time to read this hub, says a lot. I'm glad you enjoyed my hub. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello dearmommy! I'm sure you are a wonderful parent. We can all use a little reminder every once in a while. I am a very proud "Nana" and love all my grandchildren dearly. Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a kind comment! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hi Tammy! I have 8 grandchildren. I do treasure every one of "my babies", but I am a tough "Nana". They know I love them dearly, but they have to behave when they come to Nana and Papa's house. I take raising children pretty seriously. I'm glad you agree with the things I mentioned here and we all need a little reminder once in a while. Thank you so much for all your kind words! Have a wonderful day! :)
Wonderful, Wonderful! I'd like to add two more: 1) I don't know, let's find out. Let's encourage learning, instead of teaching our children to think that Mommy or Daddy knows everything, which leaves them dependent and inferior.
And: 2) You worked hard and did really well. This is a subtle point. When we tell a child "You're bright," or "You're really good at math," we actually leave them feeling a bit powerless. We tell them they are good, but relying on something they can't change - innate talent. When we tell them that they are succeeding through effort (or curiosity, or any other activity), we are encouraging them to do more and get better and try new things. That is true empowerment.
Great hub! I agree with all of it. The not apologizing to children when needed is a pet peeve of mine. I think it teaches children how to be responsible for their own actions and to apologize when they need to, even when it is hard to do so.
Self esteem seems to be a problem more now then when I was a kid. I notice it a lot. My girls are very creative and I let them know how awesome they are all the time! I have had many times of saying sorry as I am by far not a perfect Mom. This is great advice for all parents :)
Thanks for the tips. As a dad, I am really interested to know that I am following majority of the above mentioned points :)
Nice hub and I agree with this list. I had helped me realize what I do right as a parent, and the things I need to work on doing more of. Looks like you are a proud Grandma.... great work!! :)
Just by looking at the photos, I would guess you are one of those wonderful grandma's that really treasure their grandchildren. I agree with all the things you have listed and it is a great reminder to consider the things we say to children. Great hub!
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Hello travel_man! We as parents, should always be supportive of our children. We need to encourage their talents and show them that we believe in them. I'm sure Papa Ely is very proud of you in all you do! Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a wonderful comment. I will give your regards to Papa Johnny and Ethan. Thank you and have a wonderful day!!! :)
I also felt the same way, when my father was still living. He was skeptical about my technique in singing live on the radio as part of the serenading group of the station. But when I went home, he said that I have also a unique voice that can also compete with famous singers (lol). Hah! That boosted my confidence to continue my other craft, aside from writing, and that is singing and songwriting.
If only my father is living today, he would be proud of my singing, not my guitar strumming technique.
PS: Give my regards to Papa Johnny and your grandson. By the way, I also used to call my father, Papa. He's Papa Ely. :)
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Hi Chris! Just think what a wonderful place this world would be if every child heard these uplifiting and positive things every day! It may not make the world perfect, but it would certainly be a better place. Thank you for your kind words and support! Have a wonderful day!!! :)
I think this is wonderful advice... kids need to hear these things!! Nicely done!
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Hi Rolly! It's true, children are like little sponges, they take in everything they see and hear. I wonder too how the children that grew up to be killers were raised. My best guess would be that it was not a very good childhood. All of us parents need to focus on our children more these days. I think too many people are letting their children take the "back burner" to their jobs and that is really a shame! Thank you for stopping in and leaving such a thought provoking comment! I greatly appreciate your support. Have a wonderful day and hubs and blessings backto you! :)
Hi sgbrown... I so love this hub you have completed, the pictures are priceless. Children are so much like little sponges and they absorb far more than we know.
It leaves me to thinking of what is happening so much in the world, you know with all these mass shootings and all. What kind of a home were they raised in, what was there school life like. If someone would have taken the time to listen and love these people could have all this senseless violence be stopped. Thus the reason to love as a parent...those horrible things spoken into a young life are not forgotten, they become a part of their belief system.
Hugs and Blessings
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Hi Scott! I personaly know some parents that need to read this, it was e-mailed to them! :0 They are still speaking to me so they probably didn't realize I was talking about them. I just hope they learned something from it! Thank you for stopping in and commenting, it is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hi Peg, please, call me Sheila! :) Thank you for kind words. Sometimes I am just shocked at some of the things I hear parents say to their children. We need to show our children how to treat others by treating them with love, compassion and understanding. Thank you for your wonderful comment, vote and share! It is always appreciated! :)
Great Hub, I know some parents out there that need to read this!!!
What beautiful children and grandchildren you have Sgbrown. These are awesome photos and you've captured the sentiment of each point with a great illustration. I like all the suggestions and especially the ones where you teach that children should learn to say "I'm sorry" by example and also understand that mistakes happen. Telling children we love them is so important to their development and self esteem. You've written a great hub. Up and shared.
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Thank you Sandra! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Have a great day! :)
Great hub! Voted up and shared.
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Hello Your Cousins! I agree that it is important to take your children's opinion into account. We at least need to know how they feel about the subject. It is also true that we can learn from our children. Thank you for your very insiteful comment! Have a wonderful day! :)
I think it is so important to ask children their opinions. Maybe we don't do this quite enough as adults and that's unfortunate because we can often gather valuable nuggets of knowledge from our kids.
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Hello Bill! Thank you so much for such a kind comment! I know I was far from being a perfect parent, but I really tried hard. My kids have all turned out pretty good and so far their kids are too, so maybe I did a few things right. Thank you for all your support and I hope you also have a very Merry Christmas, my friend! :)
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Hello vespwoolf! When our daughter was little I remembery trying to think back to the things that my parents did. I tried to omit the things I didn't agree with and continue the ones I did. I was always impressed with the fact that they did not punish me for accidents, but explained to me why it happened. Thank you for your vote up and sharing! Have a wonderful day! :)
Hi Sheila. Ten simple, common sense tips for parents to abide by and this would be a much better world. This should be must reading for all new parents. Great job. Voting up, etc.... Have a Merry Christmas.
This is an awesome hub! If everyone practiced these 10 tips, we would have a much better adjusted society. I especially appreciate teaching children to learn from mistakes. Voted up and shared!
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Hi Ardie! Thank you for your kind words. :) The pictures are of my grandchildren, I had to incorporate them into my hub! It is so important to give your children love, guidance and support, especially in the early years. My mom and dad had their faults in raising me, but I always remembered how understanding they were about accidents. They always told me how much they loved me too. No matter what else happened, I knew how important I was to them. Thank you for stopping in and leaving such a great comment! It is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
omg, your pictures are too cute =) I love your message in this Hub - praise, love, guidance, and acceptance! I have to work harder not to scold my children for accidents...its one area where I need improvement. Excellent Hub. I hope many many many other parents out there read your advice.
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Hello Lori! It is important to tell you children you love them and that you are proud of them. Believe it or not, there are some people who believe it is beneath them to apologize to their children. I am sure that you are a wonderful parent and have well rounded, confident and loving children. Thank you for stopping in and commenting, it is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
I agree with this Hub and thank God I did all those things - I can't imagine not being able to apologize to your own kids, and everything else - and yes tell them how much they are loved and how great they are.
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Hello sholland! Accidents and mistakes are going to happen, that's just a fact. You can't always put the blame on someone or something. Children need to not be afraid of making mistakes, they need to learn from them so as not to make them again. Thank you so much for your kind comment, votes and shares! It is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Thank you babergirl! My kids are all grown with children of their own, but I still tell them I love them every time I talk to them. I also tell them I am proud of what they have become. I do the same with all my little grandchildren. I ask my kids opinion on things all the time. I think it is important to do that even when they are young, it lets them know that you value their opinion and that means a lot to them. I appreciate your kind words and sharing! Thank you so much and have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello Joyette! My kids are all grown now too and have children of their own. I still tell them I love them every time I talk to them and how proud I am of them, often. I do all my grandchildren the same way. I appreciate your wonderful compliments on my hub as well as the vote! Have a wonderful day! :)
What a great parenting hub! By saying these things and letting your kids know it's okay to make a mistake as long as we learn from them are wonderful self-esteem building strategies for well-rounded kids.
Votes and shares! :-)
This is great advice. I make sure that I tell my kids daily that I am proud of them and that I love them. I also have apologized to them before. We even ask them for their opinion. I want to show them that I care! Gonna go share this wonderful advice all over the place! :)
Wonderful! My kids are grown now, but I still love reading such material. You were simple, clear and instructional and the photos were a plus. Really great job. Voted up!
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Thank you rugexchange! I am glad you have found my hub useful. Thank you for your kind comment! :)
Best advice! These suggestions are very useful for me... Thanks!
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That's right, healthinfants! Separate accidents from intentional actions. Determine what caused the accident and fix that. Thank you for such a wonderful comment, it is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello OnePerspective! It is so important to let our children know that we love them and that we are proud of them. Thank you for such a wonderful comment, you made my day! :)
Outstanding Hub!1 wonderful rules to live by.. kudos A+A+A+A+A+
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Hello btrbell! First of all I want to congratulate you on becoming a grandma! It is wonderful!!! It was so nice of you to write a hub for your daughter, she will always remember that. Thank you for your wonderfully kind comment and of course the votes and share! I greatly appreciate your support! Have a wonderful day! :)
What a beautiful, beautiful hub and sentiments. I recently found out that i am going to be grandma so I wrote a similar hub for my daughter not too long ago! I love this and will make sure she reads it, too. Thank you for your beautiful words and all those amazingly beautiful pictures! Up+ and sharing!
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Hello crystaleyes! It is so important to be supportive and loving to our children. I appreciate your comment and vote up! Thank you and have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello mecheshier! Thank you for stopping in and voting up, etc. It is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello healthylife2! Thank you for your kind words. Your children probably learned to apologize to by learning from you as an example. The learn from what they see and hear from us. You have obviously set a wonderful example for them. We all make mistakes and your are right we should learn from them and then move on. Thank you for stopping in and leaving such a wonderful comment, vote and share! It is greatly appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
Excellent hub, all the points discussed are meaningful and mold a child's personality in the long run... Thanks and definitely voted up.. :-)
Fantastic Hub.. You could not have been more accurate on this. Thanks for the share. Voted up for useful and awesome
I love this hub and this is excellent advice. Respecting and really listening to what your children say is important. I agree with all of it and never hesitate to say I'm sorry when I make a mistake. I've noticed they have learned to apologize for being a little cranky or not listening to me. I think I tell them I love them a million times a day but it can never be too much. Of course I'm not perfect but I also learn from my mistakes and agree they should learn from their mistakes as well and then go forward. Voted up and shared!
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Hello sweetie1! Thank you for your kind words. I am sure that when you do become a mom, you will be wonderful at it. When you have your own child, loving them and being kind and good to them is so easy! It is the decipline that is the hard part! LOL Thank you for stopping in, voting and sharing! It is always appreciated! :)
Sgbrown,
This hub again does have your stamp on it. It is a very useful advise and very practical ones. I know when I would have my own kids I would try to stick to your advise even though it may not be easy. Voted up and shared with my followers.
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Hello Elizabeth! Children need to be told they are loved everyday! They need to hear that we are proud of them and support them. We are the first "teachers" of our children and they learn so much in the early years, it needs to be all positive. I agree that not only the parents should be a positive influence on our children, but grandparents play a big role too, as well as close relative and teachers. Normally, when you give kindess and love, you get it in return. Thank you for such a wonderful comment, vote and share! Have a wonderful day!!!
I love this hub so much Sheila! I have always been an advocate of training and teaching our children with positive reinforcement. They need to hear the "I love you's" and the "Thata Girl/Boy!" often and not just from parents. Any adult who has the opportunity to have a positive force in their lives should also acknowledge them with the same reinforcement. I never had children of my own, however, I have been a foster mother, and I have taught and directed children nearly all my life. It always amazes me what you can pull from a child with a simple "thank you" or "I love you". Vote up and shared! Lisa
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Hello Becky! I know how easy it is to get caught up in all the things we have to do every day, especially as a single mother! Sometimes we just need to be reminded that our children need our attention too. I'm sure you do a great job as a mom and I know we all have a little "mommy guilt". I'm glad so enjoyed my hub! Have a wonderful day!
You have my eyes welling up. We get so encased with our day to day lives and what has to be done that I feel I slack in so many of these areas. I know I do the best I can as a single parent BUT it doesn't replace the "mommy guilt". Your words are so true.....
~Becky
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Hi Peggy! Thank you for your kind comment and support. It is always appreciated!!! Have a wonderful day. :)
Such good advice!!! I would say that these suggestions make an excellent top 10 list. Up votes and tweeted.
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Hi Jamie! I can remember when I was about 9 or so, one of my friends got yelled at and whipped, (not spanked), for accidentally breaking a bedroom window in their house. I was shocked at how mad her dad got at her, when it was an accident. I remember telling my mom and her saying that was just not right. Of course, that has been a very long time ago, but I know it still happens. I didn't raise my kids that way and now they are not raising their kids tht way either. Parents just need to stop and think sometimes. Thank you for your wonderful comment and vote! It is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day. :)
This is such valuable advice and so important.. thank you for sharing it. I have a 4 year old little boy and try to keep these things in mind...I get irritated when I see parents getting angry over an accident. I try to always tell my son it's okay.. it's only an accident. I always think about how silly it is to get so mad over a spilled cup of milk or something like that.. I think to myself is it really worth a cup of milk or whatever to do that to your child? My dad did that a lot to my siblings and I when we were young... I'm 39 years old now and I still remember how that felt. Great hub... voting up :)
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Hello Mama Kim! Thank you so much for your kind comment and votes! I'm glad you enjoyed my hub. Have a great day! :)
Fabulous advice! I love every single point you made in this hub! Voting a bunch!!
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Hello crazednovelist! Thank you for your kind words. I do hope you have children someday. They truly are a blessing. Thank you for stopping in and commenting. It is greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful day!
Awww!! I don't have kids, but this was a great article for if and when I do. I loved this. :) Great pointers!
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Hello TeachableMoents! I am certain you are a wonderful and loving parent! Yes, children need to know they are loved, unconditionaly. Thank you for such a wonderful comment! Have a great day! :)
Thank you for a wonderful hub. Voted up! I am proud to be the parent of a loving, curious, caring and smart little girl. I always tell her she is loved and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that could change my feelings for her. Children need to know they are loved. Your hub states that and more. Thank you.
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Hello again Lyn! That's wonderful! Little children love to help, don't they! Encouraging them as the do makes the feel so confident. It's too bad that as they get older, they don't enjoy helping near as much! Thank you for such a great comment, I really enjoyed it! Have a wonderful day! :)
did all these, we have a 2 year old staying in our home at the moment and we get her to help put the groceries away by giving her a can and getting her to give it to her Auntie or whoever is putting things into the pantry. She is told good job for every one she hands over. and then is thanked for all her hard work helping out. It may slow down getting the groceries away but is worth it to see her so happy and proud that she helped.
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Hello again Sunshine! (You know I love your name!) I am so glad you are guilty here! Just by getting to know you here on HubPages I know that you are a very good mother and grandmother! Thank you so much for your kind comment and tweets! I always enjoy hearing from you! Have a WONDERFUL day! :)
I am guilty as sin of saying all of these things to my kids and to my grandkids. I just read your flip side hub and had to of course read this one also. Great hub! Tweeted both for others to enjoy.
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Hello Eddy! Thank you so much for such a wonderful comment. I am so glad you enjoyed my hub. I am working on another one similar to this. Thank you again and have a wonderful day! :)
What a wonderful and very useful hub. Brilliant and here's to so many more to come.
Eddy.
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Hello Nicole S! Thank you for your kind words. Our children are so precious, we need to let them know just how much we love them, everyday! Thank you for stopping in, reading and commenting, it is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
Very, very wonderful hub!! I totally agree with every item you have listed here.
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Hi Carol! I am sure you are a wonderful mother and raised your children very well. I do hope young mothers read my hub, there are just points here that many young people don't think about. Thank you for your kind comment. Have a wonderful day! :)
I think I did all or most of this. Thanks for pointing these things out and I hope lots of young mothers read this valuable hub.
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Hello girishpuri! Thank you for your kind comment and vote! It is always appreciated. Have a wonderful day!
great and practical suggestions for the proper and over all grooming of th children, great hare, voted up.
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Hello Sita. These are pretty common sense tips, but sometimes we all need to be reminded to tell our children how much we love them. Thank you for stopping in, reading and commenting. Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello Injured lamb! It's wonderful that you are your children have such a great relationship. That is what can happen when you show your children love and understanding every day! Congratulations to you and your family. Thank you for your wonderful comment. Have a great day! :)
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Hello Angela! What a wonderful comment your brother made and it is very true. Our children need to know how very much we love them, unconditionally. Thank you for your wonderful comment! I always enjoy hearing from you! Have a wonderful day my friend! :)
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Hello Jackie. Our children have feeling too. When we make a mistake or say something hurtful to them, we should be able to apologize to them and let them know we are sorry. Yes, that will help them understand that everyone makes mistakes and that you should apologize when you do. Thank you for your kind comment, vote and sharing. It is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
Thanks for the great sharing sgbrown, I am glad and blessed that I have been following these 10 things since the very beginning when my two sons knew how to communicate...and the result is great and wonderful that we love and respect each other...
What marvelous, heartfelt advice -- I recall a friend asking my brother how you managed to cope with teenage children (his girls were teenagers at the time). I thought his reply was wonderful and it holds true today and applies to all kiddos. He said, "Well, you love them the very best and most you can -- and then you love them some more!" Again, exceptional Hub. Best/Sis
Beautiful children and I agree, we can't start too early letting them know how it should be done and comfortable with admitting mistakes and apologizing. Great hub. Up and sharing.
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No problem billybuc! :) Thank you so much for your kind words. Young parents are so busy now, I'm afraid they just don't stop and think about some of these things. I hope this goes viral too! That would be great for everyone! Thank you for such a wonderful comment, it is greatly appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello Faith Reaper! There are actually some "hints" in there for some of my own kids with kids. We had a talk a little while back and I hope this re-inforces some things I said. Thank you so much for your kind comments, they are truly appreciated! Have a blessed day! :)
I have been trying to get to this hub since you published it, but I kept getting sidetracked.
This is wonderful advice....simply wonderful. It is my hope that this goes viral so thousands of young parents understand and learn. Great job my friend.
Best advice in the world! I will give this to my son to be mindful when it comes to his two daughter, my granddaughters. Thanks so much for this writing. Great hub In His Love, Faith Reaper
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Hello Ricky! (If I may) Thank you for your kind words. We do need to remember to take the time to tell our children how important they are to us and make them feel safe. Thank you for your kind comment and thumbs up, it is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello Whidbeywriter! I agree, from newborn to new adult they are always precious and we should let them know just how precious they are to us, every day! Thank you for stopping in, reading and commenting. It is always appreciated! Have a wonderful day! :)
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Hello gmwilliams! I agree with you. Every child is different in their own way. They each have feelings and fears. They look to their parents for guidance and safety. We should take each childs individuality into account. Children can be hurt emotionally at a very young age. We need to pay attention and listen to our children, they will let us know what they need. Thank you for such a wonderful comment. Have a great day!
Voting this up and all the way across but funny. Great article and "wise" information. Your grand babies are so beautiful:) Sometimes in life, we get too busy and we don't always say what we need to. Children take things to heart and you can see why it is so important to encourage, console, ect when needed. Excellent advice and a very well written article Sgbrown. Big thumbs up on this one.
Loved it.....great advice...I absolutely agree as a mom of 3 and grandma of 9...they are precious no matter how old the get. Thanks for sharing!
sgbrown, Loved this inspirationally beautiful hub. Many parents feel that their children are not individuals in their own right but appendages to mold in the parental image. There are many parents who believe that as the parent, they are the authority while children are subordinates whose ideas and feelings are often discounted! However, children are human beings who should be shown the utmost love and respect!
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Thank you Kelley! Children and grandchildren are so precious and we need to let them know how much they mean to us every day! Thank your for your kind comment and vote, it is always appreciated! Have a great day! :)
Cute kids! I love the advice you offered here. Kids need all these things from their parents. Voted up and useful! Take care, Kelley
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