The most challenging job in the world is being a parent. The responsibility to care for and help a child develop into a successful adult can be daunting. Many parents struggle between being friends with their kids and remaining the boss.
Children often talk about their parents as heroes when asked to name who they look up to in life. As parents, it can be difficult sometimes to feel like the good guy in the lives of our children. Parents enforce healthy eating habits, breakup sibling disputes, observe behavior, and say no even when we don't want to.
We may not feel that our children remember what we hoped would foster successful adults, but they do. If you want your kids to think of you like a hero archetype, you need to show up and set boundaries. Let's take a closer look at a few tips on how to be a hero to your children.
Small Things Matter
Children are unlikely to share the more important things with us as they grow if we ignore the small things when they are young. Your child will feel more comfortable telling you what is on their mind if you build a trusting relationship.
To our children, even the smallest of incidents can have a big impact on their lives. You can damage your child's development by minimizing life events, even the most superficial accomplishments. Whenever your children bring something to your attention, take the time to acknowledge it. You will be able to endear yourself to them and build their confidence by validating them.
Be Larger Than Life
Children have a limited filter and are fascinated by things that are flamboyant and entertaining. A child that has a playmate in their parent will build a trusting relationship that will last throughout their lives. Some parents may feel silly having fun with their kids.
Putting your pride aside when it comes to child play is essential. Get down on the floor and build legos, have a tea party with your child, and build their imagination with lively and creative storytime.
Imprint Fun Memories
Children tend to have limited long-term memory. It's up to parents to help keep the fun times alive in their minds. For example, if you have experienced a fun family vacation, bringing up memories to your children will remind them of their adventures.
In many ways, parents serve as memory keepers for their children. To help your child recall enjoyable memories, you can routinely go through pictures and videos or create a memory scrapbook to celebrate family events.
Say Yes
Parents have a responsibility to say no to their kids when it comes to their safety and welfare. However, that doesn't mean that “no” has to be your answer for everything. Pay attention to your children's requests and do everything you can to say yes when possible.
Many parents benefit from allowing themselves a few minutes to consider a request before answering. You may find that whatever your child is asking for may be beneficial to their development. While not every question from your child will result in a positive answer, your child must know that you might say yes. Saying yes isn't about spoiling your child, but rather an opportunity to embrace their ideas and help them feel like a valued family member.
Always Have Their Back
Kids will be kids, which means they are likely to get into trouble. They may have difficulty finding the right path when they don't believe their most important people are on their side. Even when your child is wrong, standing up for him is one of the bravest things you can do.
You need to act as an anchor in your child's life. They should be able to depend on you to have their backs, even when they are wrong. This unconditional love will undoubtedly earn you a bit of hero worship from your kids.
Don't Hover
There is a real problem with helicopter parenting in today's world, and the practice is on the rise. Overprotecting our children can indeed ease parental anxiety, but it holds few benefits for the children themselves. As a parent, you must keep your children safe, but to build their independence, you have to give them some space.
In order for a child to feel confident in their abilities, they need to know and feel that their parents trust them. When your child is always trying out new things and stepping out on their own, you should allow them to do so. Even though you must be available in case they need you, it is a bad idea to hover over them constantly.
New parents learn something new about the needs of their children every day. If you want to build a solid and trusting bond with your child, you might aim to be one of their heroes. Follow these tips to help you create a relationship with your child that is rewarding for you both.
