Be a good role model
Walk the walk. Don’t just tell your child what you want them to do. Show them.
Human is a special species in part because we can learn by imitation1 . We are programmed to copy other’s actions to understand them and to incorporate them into our own. Children, in particular, watch everything their parents do very carefully.
So, be the person you want your child to be — respect your child, show them positive behavior and attitude, have empathy towards your child’s emotion — and your child will follow suit.
Love Them and show them through actions
There is no such thing as loving your child too much. Loving them cannot spoil them2.
Only what you choose to do (or give) in the name of love can — things like material-indulgence, leniency, low expectation, and over-protection. When these things are given in place of real love, that’s when you’ll have a spoiled child.
Loving your child can be as simple as giving them hugs, spending time with them and listening to their issues seriously.
Showing these acts of love can trigger the release of feelgood hormones such as oxytocin, opioids, and prolactin. These neurochemicals can bring us a deep sense of calm, emotional warmth and contentment, from these the child will develop resilience and not to mention a closer relationship with you3.
Make Communication a Priority
You can’t expect kids to do everything simply because you, as a parent, “say so.” They want and deserve explanations as much as adults do. If we don’t take time to explain, kids will begin to wonder about our values and motives and whether they have any basis. Parents who reason with their kids allow them to understand and learn in a nonjudgmental way.
Make your expectations clear. If there is a problem, describe it, express your feelings, and invite your child to work on a solution with you. Be sure to include consequences. Make suggestions and offer choices. Be open to your child’s suggestions as well. Negotiate. Kids who participate in decisions are more motivated to carry them out.
Importance of Food and Nutrition In Early childhood development
Healthy food and a balanced diet have a crucial role to play in early childhood development. Healthy diet of early childhood has a strong impact on a child’s health which continues throughout adolescence and adulthood. Maintaining a healthy diet supports healthy growth and provides with the energy they need to carry out the daily activities. Eating healthy food has been proven to help children grow as healthy and confident kids. Food is fundamental to developing a sense of well being and is responsible for children’s achievement at all stages of education. Proper learning is enhanced when the children are well nourished. It has been observed that food choices affect the behaviour pattern and the performance level of children.
Do Physical Activities Together
Physical exercise benefits humans of all ages, including toddlers and young children. Babies of only six months begin to lift and support their body with their feet and hands, and then rapidly progress to coordinate the movement of limbs to crawl, and develop balance to stand and walk.
Activities like climbing up and down stairs (with parental help), kicking and throwing balls, running, and riding a tricycle should be encouraged to benefit children physically, but also to teach them the relationship between failure and success. While it is important not to push children beyond their limits, the lesson of falling and getting up to try a second and third time is integral to healthy development and to overcoming obstacles they will meet in later life.
Give Your Child Discipline
Children should learn to take responsibility for their actions by owning up to mistakes, correcting those mistakes, and accepting the consequences for their actions. However, as a parent, you need to recognize that children less than two years old don’t yet have the cognitive abilities to remember or reflect on prior instructions before acting. Repetition is not only required, but essential to teaching the rules and expected behavior.