Here are some of the factors which are important when raising well-rounded children.
Sleep!
When your child is a small baby you might feel as if they’ll never sleep through the night but fast forward a couple of years and you’ll find that they sleep soundly.
However, no matter how tired your child is, they’ll normally protest that they’re not ready for bed. It’s your job, therefore, to gauge an appropriate bedtime for their age, and to make sure they get enough sleep.
A tired child won’t be able to concentrate properly at school and their grades could suffer, they will be grumpy or quiet and their appetite may swing wildly.
It’s not much fun being around a tired child – as any parent will know! Your child probably won’t even recognize that they’re tired so it’s up to you to spot the signs and tweak their bedtime if needed.
Education
Every child is blessed with a different academic ability and some are naturally better at some subjects than others. It’s easy to end up focusing on the subjects that your child enjoys and excels at, leaving other areas to slip behind.
Sport is a good example of this. If your child has a promising athletic ability, their academic studies may slip into the background. However, it’s always important for your child to achieve their personal potential across the board as it will equip them better for the career they choose.
Good diet
Similarly to sleep, diet and nutrition are integral components to every child’s life that they’ll need a bit of help with.
Left to their own devices most children would choose to scoff crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks, leaving them seriously short on nutrients.
What your child eats in their childhood, and even as a baby will help to determine their eating habits in later life. By demonstrating a healthy approach to eating, you will sidestep any issues such as overeating.
It’s worth mentioning that a healthy attitude to food includes occasional treats. Banning sweets and biscuits completely will only make them more tempting and can lead to secret binging. By allowing your child to enjoy a treat now and then, with a healthy diet the rest of the time you’ll be passing on an attitude which will serve them well.
Chores
Sadly, there are no magic fairies to cook dinner and keep the house clean, so children need to learn at a young age that they need to do their fair share.
When they’re younger, this may just involve carrying their plate back out to the kitchen or help to lay the table, but you increase their responsibilities as they get older.
It’s important for children to take part in age-appropriate chores so they don’t grow up assuming that everything will be done for them. Learning that co-operation and compromise is required to live together in harmony is one of the most helpful life lessons you can teach.
A well-rounded approach
Moderation in all things helps to create a well-rounded child, whether that’s diet, recreation activities or sport. Giving your child the chance to experiment and learn as they’re growing will help them to become well-rounded adults in due course.
