Well, not really secrets, but hey.
1 – Be your childs best friend. When asked who they’d like to play with, make sure they say YOU! Take time to play with them, dolls, video games, bike riding swimming, skating, whatever they want to do, make sure it’s with you. Let them know you are a part of their world and not only understand it, but enjoy it. They will remember this for the rest of their lives. “My best friend was my dad”. Take them out on a date. Let them know how to treat others, by treating them. Show them with actions. For little girls, ask them where they’d like to go, pull their chair out, let them pick from the menu, pick up the bill. For boys, reverse the roll. Let them know how to treat others, by showing them
2- Discipline is not punishment. To discipline a child does not mean to punish them, it means to educate them. They are looking for guidance, they don’t yet know the boundarys of this world, they are relying on you to teach them. Teach them through discipline of your actions, not through aggression or punishment. See how Rule 1 helps = there is no greater teacher than a respected friend. Be the teacher, not the dictator.
3- Be rough with them. Rough and tumble games edcate your child on how aggressive to be around others and how much to take. You don’t want your child walking around hitting others, being mean or stealing from them, so make sure you’ve played rough and tumble games to show the boundarys of aggression. Like puppies, they learn through fun, rough and tumble games.
4 – Make time. It won’t be long before they’ve grown up and you’ve missed that time with them and will wish they were young again. When they ask to play, SAY YES! Even if it’s for an hour or 30 mins. If that 30 mins was so important, get up 30 mins earlier the next day and do what had to be done then. That child is looking to you to be there best friend – See rule 1 – It doesn’t matter if you think what they want to play is boring or silly, to them your time is EVERYTHING!
5 – Keep it magical. While it’s great to educate your child to the truths of life. It’s also important to add some magic to their lives — While you still can — Yes, she is a princess. Yes, we will go see santa, Yes, the Elves really are watching, Yes the princesses at Disney World are real. Again, it won’t be long before they’ll be laughing at this, but while you can. IT’S PURE MAGIC.
6 – Don’t be mad homie – Don’t leave them to cry alone in their rooms, yes, sometimes they’re naughty, they’re kids. But these times are important to them and us. If they’ve been naughty, bad or whatever. Discipline them, teach them. But don’t let them sit in their rooms, or be alone crying themselves to sleep. I’ve done this as a child, nothing feels worse, I want my friend to make it better. If they don’t show up, I’ll just be sad and feel alone. They are not alone. They have you. Do something about it. Don’t be so stupid that you think that staying angry at them is more important than discipline – Who’s the child here.
7 – Stay in damn shape. Try pulling them up the hill on their scooter if you haven’t worked out in years. Try biking with them, when you sit behind a desk all day. They have infinite energy. You’ve got to keep up or you’ll end up saying, “I’m too tired to do it today” — Big mistake. My best friend would never say that. Get to the gym, bike, run do martial arts, whatever it takes.
And if doing anything of this makes you feel silly. Try having a pic with Doc Mc Stuffins and get back to me…