NATIONAL PURPOSEFUL PARENTING MONTH

It takes much more than a decision to implement Purposeful Parenting in the family.  It takes commitment and lots of hard work, but the results can be immeasurably rewarding.

        The blueprint for Purposeful Parenting includes a number of building blocks that restore and nurture love and respect in the family and help to shift the family’s energy from reaction to action.  Strategies that build strong, positive, functional families with children of any age can be easily implemented and readily continued.

        Youngsters can be taught from an early age to make good choices and to feel good about themselves.  It is most important that parents give their children roots and wings, and gently guide them from dependence to independence.

The steps to Purposeful Parenting incorporate the following important building blocks:

1.      Structure & Order

2.      Responsibility & Accountability

3.      Firmness & Fairness

4.      Limits & Boundaries

5.      Consistency

6.      Problem-Solving Skills

7.      Understanding

8.      Unconditional Love

These components, coupled with positive role-modeling, help to create a safe place in which children can grow, develop, thrive, and flourish.

The Best Times Are When You Make Time!

        Time spent with your children doing simple things can result in the best of times.  Don’t skimp.  Take every chance you can, and savor each moment as a treasure!

Suggestions for family fun.

Rent videos.
Play board games.
Go bowling.
Cook together.
Make homemade ice cream.
Go to the Zoo
Work on an arts and craft project.
Go to a concert.
Go fishing.
Have a family reunion.

Throw a family party.  Everyone gets to invite two guests.
Go to a flea market.
Go to a ball game.
Roller-blade together.
Go to the beach or park.
Put together a puzzle.
Go to the movie.
Play put-put golf.

In celebration of Purposeful Parenting Month, parents can do a variety of simple things to create a more positive and loving home life.

Tell your children you love them.  Do this often.

Children thrive on parental unconditional love. It’s the love that communicates, I’m here for you; I believe in you, I love you no matter what! Often tell your children you love them!

 

Find at least one thing your child has done right each day. 

A common mistake made by many parents is to overlook good behavior and spent too much time on the inappropriate behavior. Instead shift your focus to what the kids are doing right. Find at least one thing daily and comment on it!

Celebrate the uniqueness of all family members 

Appreciate the individuality of each family member. Remember kids don’t have to be clones of mom and dad to be acceptable. How different can a parent allow a child to be? Ask yourself, Is this illegal, immoral, something that is going to make a difference in five year, going to hurt the child or someone else, inappropriate for the child age? If you can say no to these questions, you can say yes to the child’s uniqueness.

 
Create a safe environment

Make your home a safe place for all family members. In addition to not permitting physical confrontations, don’t allow verbal mistreatment. Insist all family members treat one another with courtesy, kindness and respect.

 

Grab every opportunity to spend unstructured time.

It takes time to get to know a young person, to feel her hurts and understand her problems. Look for opportunities to spend time with your children. For example, play catch or shoot baskets, play video games or board games, build a snowman or sand castle, help with homework or daily chores, go for a walk, ride bikes, or simply read a story.

 

Plan family fun.

Spending time together provides for the opportunity for happy memories from which the family can draw on during difficult times. These might include, summer picnics, trips to the beach, backyard barbecues, or even learning a sport together as a family. Use arbitration as an opportunity to discuss and plan a monthly family time.  Then make it a priority and put it on the calendar.

 

Teach values.

Families teach children societal rules and behavioral expectations. Additionally, from the family children learn morals, values, and attitudes. They also learn about relationships and what is considered important. By your actions and your words teach about love, honesty, courage, self-discipline, chastity, loyalty, fairness, empathy, tolerance, respect, and right from wrong.

 

Establish family traditions.

Another way to make memories and have fun is through family traditions.  Traditions simply celebrate the family, cultivate family identity, build hopefulness and cement family ties.  They don’t have to be elaborate affairs, just relevant to your family. Your family rituals or traditions might be the special way you celebrate the holidays, acknowledge a family member’s milestone (such as a birthday) or honor a family member’s achievement (such as a good report card.)