Children are very impressionable, even at a young age. It is our responsibility as parents, to set good examples. We must teach our children life skills, and how to behvae in the real world. (among other things.) Some children are natural born leaders, others have to grow into the situation.

Always keep the lines of communication open. Let your child know that you will always be there to help them. Teach them to be who they are and not pretend to be someone else. It is okay to march to the beat of another drum.

First and foremost, teach your child the difference between leading and being bossy. Teach them that in order to lead, you must also follow. Orgizational skills are also important for children. It helps them to be able to keep track of certain things and know what their priorities may be. Buy your child a date book, or give them a small notebook, to keep track of things in. Chore charts are also excellent ways to organize what needs to be done.

Encourage your child to make their own decisions. Talk to them about peer pressure. Let them practice saying no. Let your child be a decision maker. Let them decide what to eat for dinner one night, or something simple. It helps them understand that there are choices in every decision. (Understand that your child is not going to be a baby forever, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try children might not always do what you want them too.)

Learn something new from your child. Make it a game of sorts. Let them teach you something, and you teach them something also. Allow your child to participate in summer programs. Encourage them to make friends and have playmates.

As a parent, all we can do is teach and talk and hope our child follows our advice and the examples we set. We hope our children will be perfect but it does not always turn out that way. Stick by your kid's side and be there when they need you. Lead by example.

Learn more about this author, Laura Leigh Fields.
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