make Erja [or your child] smarter
I got an e-mail entitled "The Best Gifts Ever : Life Experiences Every Child Should Have" from God-knows-who about gifts for our children. Apparently, we, parents spent so much on our children's presents alone.
However, the best gifts we can give our children can not be purchased in a store. And while they are within the grasp of all parents to give, not all children receive them. What are these gifts? It is nothing more than six simple life experiences every child should have. While we'll continue to buy gifts for our kids, let's make sure the six below are also given along the way. They may not be as exciting to receive as the latest game or toy, but as our children grow older and reflect on their lives, they will be truly thankful to have received them.
Hear me...
1.
The gift of healthy habits.
Children need to learn about and experience regular exercise, adequate sleep, and proper nutrition. Help instill these habits from an early age, or any age for that matter. Encourage your kids to get active. Explore and use your neighbourhood recreation centre. Re-discover walking. Teach the importance of healthy eating.
2.
The gift of unconditional love.
Show your children how much you love them—with your words and actions. Let them know that you will always be there for them. Teach your children to separate their actions from their sense of self. Explain that while you might sometimes be disappointed or even furious with their actions, you will always love them.
3.
The gift of compassion.
As a family you might volunteer your time or talents to assist those in need. Some families agree to donate 10% of each child's allowance to a charity of his/her choosing. Consider sponsoring a child, or adopting an abandoned pet from your local SPCA or Humane Society. Teach them the value of action—getting involved and selflessly giving of yourself so that others may gain.
4.
The gift of potential.
Help your children discover their own unique talents, as well as identify new ones. Try various activities and explore areas of interest. Nurture their potential through hobbies, visits to the library, or talking to people in various fields. Guide gently, giving your trust, encouragement and congratulations along the way. Sometimes all they need is for someone else to believe in them before they believe in themselves.
5.
The gift of optimism.
Children and teens can often feel overloaded or overwhelmed by situations and events. Teach your child that every situation can be overcome. Learn about self-talk, and to focus on what you have, rather than what is missing—letting go of "what should be". It has been rightly said, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
6.
The gift of humor.
Children laugh all the time, but later in life we sometimes lose the ability to find the lighter side of situations. Show your kids it's OK not to take themselves too seriously. Nothing reduces stress, or can change your attitude faster than a smile or good giggle such is the power of laughter.
***
We have stopped buying gifts [toys to be specific] for Erja about a year ago. Not that we are "kedekut", but more because Erja herself didn't show much interest. Our observation that the longest time she spend on new toy is about 7 minutes. Her reaction is the same as other kids when they get new toys, but in Erja's case, toy does not seem to stimulate her. She normally focus her energy trying to fix and to the extent dismantled them all. You won't see the toy again, until her cousins Ai'man and Da'nia come to visit. The toys will be left alone in her toy box.
Interesting enough, Erja loves book. She gets this from her Abah, definitely! She reads [at least imitate us] books or magazines as though she understands it. Erja has her scrapbook. She will get her Abah to draw ter-ly [butterfly], loon [balloon] and pish [fish] all over her scrapbook. I love watching both Erja and her Abah bond together. She is like her Abah's miniature. Oh, she loves to sing and dance too. And I'm telling you, she seriously can dance...
Thank God it's Friday!
However, the best gifts we can give our children can not be purchased in a store. And while they are within the grasp of all parents to give, not all children receive them. What are these gifts? It is nothing more than six simple life experiences every child should have. While we'll continue to buy gifts for our kids, let's make sure the six below are also given along the way. They may not be as exciting to receive as the latest game or toy, but as our children grow older and reflect on their lives, they will be truly thankful to have received them.
Hear me...
1.
The gift of healthy habits.
Children need to learn about and experience regular exercise, adequate sleep, and proper nutrition. Help instill these habits from an early age, or any age for that matter. Encourage your kids to get active. Explore and use your neighbourhood recreation centre. Re-discover walking. Teach the importance of healthy eating.
2.
The gift of unconditional love.
Show your children how much you love them—with your words and actions. Let them know that you will always be there for them. Teach your children to separate their actions from their sense of self. Explain that while you might sometimes be disappointed or even furious with their actions, you will always love them.
3.
The gift of compassion.
As a family you might volunteer your time or talents to assist those in need. Some families agree to donate 10% of each child's allowance to a charity of his/her choosing. Consider sponsoring a child, or adopting an abandoned pet from your local SPCA or Humane Society. Teach them the value of action—getting involved and selflessly giving of yourself so that others may gain.
4.
The gift of potential.
Help your children discover their own unique talents, as well as identify new ones. Try various activities and explore areas of interest. Nurture their potential through hobbies, visits to the library, or talking to people in various fields. Guide gently, giving your trust, encouragement and congratulations along the way. Sometimes all they need is for someone else to believe in them before they believe in themselves.
5.
The gift of optimism.
Children and teens can often feel overloaded or overwhelmed by situations and events. Teach your child that every situation can be overcome. Learn about self-talk, and to focus on what you have, rather than what is missing—letting go of "what should be". It has been rightly said, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
6.
The gift of humor.
Children laugh all the time, but later in life we sometimes lose the ability to find the lighter side of situations. Show your kids it's OK not to take themselves too seriously. Nothing reduces stress, or can change your attitude faster than a smile or good giggle such is the power of laughter.
***
We have stopped buying gifts [toys to be specific] for Erja about a year ago. Not that we are "kedekut", but more because Erja herself didn't show much interest. Our observation that the longest time she spend on new toy is about 7 minutes. Her reaction is the same as other kids when they get new toys, but in Erja's case, toy does not seem to stimulate her. She normally focus her energy trying to fix and to the extent dismantled them all. You won't see the toy again, until her cousins Ai'man and Da'nia come to visit. The toys will be left alone in her toy box.
Interesting enough, Erja loves book. She gets this from her Abah, definitely! She reads [at least imitate us] books or magazines as though she understands it. Erja has her scrapbook. She will get her Abah to draw ter-ly [butterfly], loon [balloon] and pish [fish] all over her scrapbook. I love watching both Erja and her Abah bond together. She is like her Abah's miniature. Oh, she loves to sing and dance too. And I'm telling you, she seriously can dance...
Thank God it's Friday!
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