Children rely on their parents as mentors for the development of their character. However, most parents nowadays put more emphasis on good grades than good morals. While good grades are important, developing a child’s character may help them more in the future. With children spending lots of time at home due to the coronavirus, this is a great opportunity to provide much-needed mentorship so as to mould them into well-rounded adults. Here are some ways to mentor your kids at home.
- Keep an open mind
Remember that our kids come from different generations and have been exposed to different things than what you know. Mentor them according to what they know and be willing to learn from them. The best way to be an effective mentor is to make your mentee know that you’re relatable and approachable.
- Find Fun Things To Do
Engaging in activities with your kids will help you learn more about their personality which you can help develop afterward. Try and do as many things as possible without limitations. Remember that you’re assuming the role of a mentor and not a parent. Therefore, you should give them free will to run around and have fun.
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- Be A Good Example
If you want to build a trustworthy relationship with your kids, make sure you reflect on what you teach them. It can be something as simple as keeping time or cleaning up after a mentorship session. Remember that children learn by example and since you’re their mentor, they will emulate your behaviours.
- Encourage Online Learning
Sure, school’s out but the learning process never ends. In this digital era, there are lots of resources online to refine and develop new skills. You can encourage your kids to use their free time to develop key skills such as tech skills, self-defence, first-aid and interpersonal skills.
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- Involve Them In Doing House Chores
It’s never too early to introduce your kids to house chores. You can start with simple things that won’t make a mess such as unpacking grocery bags, wiping tables, and stirring food. The most important thing is to get them actively participating in the chores. This teaches responsibility and helps them develop essential skills they’ll need in their adulthood.
- Take A Genuine Interest
As a mentor, you’re assuming a very personal role that requires both you and your children to share personal things. Taking a genuine interest in your child will help you give better advice and identify their likes and dislikes better. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your children is to listen to them.
- Share Ideas
Since you’re more exposed, you have better ideas about your child’s potential. Try sharing ideas about their strong suits or even the challenges they’re facing without being too pushy. Encourage them to brainstorm ideas and then start a conversation on these ideas. In the end, it should be their decision to make.
- Set Mutual Goals
It’s not about telling your kids what to do and giving them deadlines. This isn’t mentoring. While talking, identify the goals they want to achieve. Again, it doesn’t have to be something big. It could be learning to tie their shoes, learning a multiplication table, or mastering a dance routine. List down these goals then share ways on how they can achieve them.
One of the ways you can mentor your children is also by teaching them financial responsibility from a young age – Finances: Teaching Your Child To Save. One of the things parents have to unlearn sometimes is parenting like their parents did to avoid being toxic parents. Which is why you might need to learn to parent differently. Check out Five Ways I Will Raise My Children Differently From The Way I Was Raised
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