On my last trip home, I indulged in the most decadent 7-course meal. It had dishes that were perfectly cooked and served. I am talking about an imaginary meal that was ‘cooked up’ by my 3-year-old twin nieces for me.
A perfect meal, with no calories.
Much like being an Aunt. The perfect relationship, where you get to cuddle, love and be part of your sibling’s children lives without the addition of the day to day responsibility that parenthood brings.
Being a parent is a tough and probably the only role where you ‘learn on the job’. It does not come with a manual and it is lifelong of trial and error. It helps to have family around, to chip in when they can and in whatever manner they can.
I am not a parent. Not being one sometimes gives me a ringside view that Parents may lack. So here are 5 Parenting tips that I, as an Aunt and as an observer, share with you.
Let children get bored: Allow your children to get bored, as boredom is a trigger for thinking, for imagining and for discovery. Don’t pack them into multiple classes, for the sake of keeping them occupied or away. Let them have time to do nothing so that their fertile minds could think of ways to utilise it. Recipe for disaster? Not if you nudge their thinking or imagination a little.
Let children ask questions: And as exasperating as it may be to be on the receiving end, answer them. Asking questions and having them answered by a parent or parents is an important base for setting up a bond with your child. A bond of communication, of trust and of getting the right information. Children are curious, if you don’t answer them they go to someone else and that someone else may not always give them the right information.
Make children do chores: Children who are waited upon and spoilt grow up to be lazy and spoilt adults. Doing chores creates empathy and of course, learning. When a child is allowed to sit and order people around it is a habit that would continue. Teaching your children to do chores around the house or run small errands for you will be a big help to you, and will help children become self-sufficient and empathetic. They are sure to thank you for it later.
Teach children the value of money: Giving a child unlimited amounts of money or being miserly with it are both not right. Spending unrealistically, to keep up with friends and family, gives them a wrong idea about money too. When children are old enough, give them small weekly allowances, and ask them to stick to that amount, so that they learn the value of it. At the same time do not discuss debts and other financial issues you may have with your children.
Stop ruing about the good old days: Your children will not be like you were as a child. Times have changed, things have changed, life has changed and circumstances have changed. With more exposure, more gadgets and more awareness children are smarter, quicker and more intelligent than we probably were, and it is unfair to expect a child of today to grow at the pace you did. Learn through your child and grow with them instead, it’s a win-win situation.
I may not be a parent but I have been a child. I believe children do not learn what you tell them, but they learn from observing what you do. Which is why it is important to pay attention to your actions more than you do to your words. Those little eyes are watching and that blank slate of a mind is filing all the information away.
It is a first ever guest blog post on my blog. I wanted to introduce some new things on my blog this month. I am happy to have Mayuri on my blog to help me celebrate my blog’s first anniversary.
About the lovely author-
Mayuri Nidigallu is Tarot Card Reader by profession and a Writer by design. Since she is already aware of what the future holds, she enjoys unwrapping the present.
You could read more of her at Sirimiri – The Lifestyle Blogazine. http://sirimiri.in/
Connect with her –
Twitter- https://twitter.com/Mayuri6
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/mysticmerrymaker/
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June 6, 2017 at 3:02 pm
Wow! I loved the first point to let the children get bored. Kids can do anything at tender age, if guided properly. The best way to guide them is by letting them explore their inner-self. Loved the post! 🙂
June 6, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Thanks Saumy..I also loved all the points by Mayuri. Good to see you here after a long time. 🙂
June 6, 2017 at 9:24 pm
I loved the introduction and truly agree with everything Mayuri said .Aunts and uncles ,grandparents have the beat views and most fun
June 6, 2017 at 10:23 pm
Yes I also loved all the points by Mayuri. Thanks Amrita 🙂
June 6, 2017 at 9:25 pm
I meant best views Children do need to be allowed to get bored otherwise imagination is not encouraged.
June 7, 2017 at 12:09 am
Hahahah – great. I am a parent and I am an aunt. Yes, big difference! So fun to spoil my little nephew and niece rotten:-) 🙂 Greta post, enjoyed this one!
June 7, 2017 at 7:53 am
Thanks Eli 🙂
June 7, 2017 at 5:04 am
I love the last point !! Every parent must understand that !! Time has change so as parenting as well
June 7, 2017 at 7:53 am
Thank you 🙂
June 7, 2017 at 6:37 am
Let them get bored.. so true, Once I kept a very limited stock of toys for my kid & truly I was pleased with the creativity & imaginations he did with the existing ones..
June 7, 2017 at 7:54 am
Thanks Jhilmil
June 7, 2017 at 10:35 am
Great post and nice suggestions there for the kids of today who do not know how to deal with boredom. Am all for involving kids with the everyday chores. Keep them busy, and sometimes let them decide what they’d like to do themselves as well. We don’t have to breathe down their necks at all times. The last point is very important, of course.
June 7, 2017 at 10:46 am
Thanks for reading Esha. I agree on giving space to kids and let them take their own decisions.
June 7, 2017 at 11:00 am
Thank you for inviting me to write a guest post for your Blog, Deepa. I am truly thrilled!
Also happy to see the comments to the post 🙂
June 7, 2017 at 11:54 am
Thanks a lot Mayuri for writing a guest post for my blog. 🙂
June 7, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Actually I should follow the first point as well not just kids. Boredom actually leads to all the awesome ideas and triggers creativity. Kids are so much smarter these days.
June 7, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Thanks Raj 🙂
June 7, 2017 at 4:23 pm
I love being an aunt, I have a nephew and a niece and it is so difficult at times not to spoil them but I try to do my best!
June 7, 2017 at 4:34 pm
I also love my nieces and as an aunt we can spoil them little bit. 🙂 Thanks for reading
June 7, 2017 at 9:50 pm
Loved these ideas, Mayuri! I would think of all those things and add – “Stop being overprotective. Kids will be fine.”
Deepa – a good one there!
June 8, 2017 at 9:13 am
Thank you Parul..Glad you liked it 🙂
June 8, 2017 at 12:29 am
As an educator, I definitely agree. Especially about letting children be bored. Figure it out and make your own fun!
June 8, 2017 at 9:14 am
Thank you
June 8, 2017 at 1:11 am
What a great post! I was an Auntie for years before I had my daughter!!! It really prepared me 🙂
June 8, 2017 at 9:18 am
Thanks..glad you liked it 🙂
June 11, 2017 at 11:23 am
This is great advice. I am a first time mom and I have a niece and nephew who I could spend time with before I had my little one. Will be sharing this.
June 11, 2017 at 10:51 pm
Thank you 🙂
June 13, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Great tips. I read somewhere else about letting children get bored, they get more creative 🙂
June 13, 2017 at 10:03 pm
Thanks Swati
June 14, 2017 at 12:49 am
Awesome tips from your prespicticve from an aunt.
June 14, 2017 at 10:56 am
Thank you