Kid Whisperer Nation Tips for Parents #101-105

Kid Whisperer Nation Tip for Parents #101

ACT THE WAY YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO ACT

“Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t work, and everyone knows it. If you don’t act the way you want your kids to act, they won’t act the way you want them to.

It is quite possible that you act like a pretty bad person. If this is true, it is very likely that your kids will act that way also. So, if you act this way, stop doing that.

Kid Whisperer Nation Tip for Parents #102

ALLOW YOUR KIDS TO OVERHEAR WISDOM

Kids don’t listen to wisdom that is crammed down their throats in the form of lecture, especially when anger is present. However, kids are highly receptive when they are spying and they think they are stealing information from you.

Talking enthusiastically, while within earshot of your kids, about how good you feel after a hard day’s work, or how much better you feel after working out, or about how much you value your friendships, can go a long way towards your kids absorbing your values.

Kid Whisperer Nation Tip for Parents #103

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

It’s a tried and true, old fashioned bit of wisdom, but there is rarely a reason to have a mean-spirited argument with a spouse or significant other in front of your kids. The moment you feel like you aren’t acting like your best self, take yourself away from your kid, or delay that adult conversation for later.

Kid Whisperer Nation Tip for Parents #104

BE AN ENCOURAGING DISCIPLINARIAN

Your kids have one foot in the world of the known and safe, and one foot in the world of the unknown and strange. It is your job to encourage your child to explore the unknown and strange while keeping one foot in the known and safe. Your calm, encouraging presence creates the real estate where your kid(s) can put down that “known” foot so they can explore the world as you encourage them to do so.

It is also your job to make sure she does not cause a problem while recoiling: her feelings, including fear, in this case, are never wrong. Causing a problem is not OK, even if it is as a result of a feeling (like fear or anger, for example).

Kid Whisperer Nation Tip for Parents #105

REQUIRE YOUR KIDS TO ADJUST TO YOUR LIFESTYLE OF CHOICE

Of course, becoming a parent requires a pretty big lifestyle change, especially when kids are the very, very small, useless humans known as “babies.”

However, as much and as soon as possible, kids should be adjusting to our lifestyles instead of the opposite. Kids should not be end all and be all of our lives. If you live the life you want to live, you will be happier, and having happier parents is good for kids. Modeling making your life what you want it to be is also helpful for kids.