3 of 25

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

how things impact your way of thinking at a point in your life things that impact and stay with you, or "stick". Young adults surely find this easy as they are out experiencing life with new independence and likely are seeing how mom, dad or grandparents were right about things they told them growing up. As we get older, and things don't stick as good when our experiences tend to pile up, you may understand better as you are mulling and considering something in your life, and BAM, you hear a comment, see a talk show, or read an article that seems to reach right into your mind and confirm or answer what has been on your mind. Same for a child - they are craving direction and acceptance. When the time comes, all that you said will be there for them.

Paying attention and sharing with a child are very important ways to make a difference, but once a child grows up they are going to need to know how to cope with the burdens and responsibilities that come their way or how to react and deal with the society around them. Teaching responsibility is critical for making a positive difference in the life of a child. In recent years it has seem to become a trend for parents to be a friend to their child, or children. This really makes it difficult to be the one who passes on respect for responsibility and strength of character. Being a parent first, and a friend second, and train each and every child to be responsible will have a positive impact. Being responsible for chores, and paying the consequences of neglecting the chores is the way to instill good character into children. Responsibility and consequences for social behaviors is important as well. For example, a child needs to understand that respect for someone's differing opinion is better than bullying them into what they want.

Advice is another good way to make a difference. Not advice for the child, but openness to advice falling on the parents. Parents will always know their child better than anyone. But there is something to be said for an outsider's perspective. In this information age, getting advice is relatively easy and painless for parents. Just go to a bookstore, library, go online or turn on some daytime talk shows; parental advice abounds everywhere. The part that might be a little more painful is swallowing pride and opening up to friends, family or other parents about specific issues you might be facing. Access to information and understanding issues about personality, disabilities, strengths or genetics has made it easier to properly give advantages to children than it has in the past. That does not mean we have mastered how to deal with specific personalities and traits that are unique to all children. Clearly, most children can be put in categories, as is done in public schools regular class, advanced class or special education class. Not all traits to personalities can be understood right away. Understanding and dealing with a unique child might best be left to advice from parents with similar children or others whom have lived with the unique trait or personality.

There are lots of other ways to make the life of a child better; giving them freedom; trusting their judgments with encouragement versus second guessing; help them with homework; don't help them with their homework; expose them to tough subjects early; put technology in their lives; keep technology from their lives. The list of pointers or tips and how-to's could go on for pages. But general understanding of the basic things a child needs in life, like those mentioned here, will surely make a difference. And you can bet your bottom dollar, ignoring a child's needs in these areas will make a difference as well.

Learn more about this author, Ralph Mcallister.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about How to make a difference in the life of a child?
We want to hear your view. Write now!