Beautiful Parenting in Africa: The Five Rules of Parenting

I have met a lot of wonderful people. I have also met a lot of nasty people as well.

I have always believed that there is good in everyone and that it is a person’s childhood experiences that make them who they are today.  In this post, we will be talking about the five (5) rules of Parenting.

Trust me there are way more than 5 rules but I’m going to highlight the 5 that have worked for me and a few people I know. I know you will find this helpful.

Parenting Rule No. 1 – Different ages require different approaches

There are different responses for different ages. What worked for your 3-year-old will definitely not work for your 5-year-old. The type of conversation you have with your 5 year old about behaviour will not work for your 3-year-old.

The toys you buy for your 4-year-old are not appropriate for your 2 and a half-year-old, no matter how much they cry for it. They are only going to ruin it.  Asking your 4-year-old to share will only interrupt their play and make them dislike the 2-year-old.

Parenting Rule No. 2 – Observe your child

This rule will help you achieve rule number 1. Observe your child. Observation is not the same as watching. Watching just looks but observation sees. See and take notes. Let your child speak to you, let what they do and how they do it give you ideas for activities and how to respond to them when it comes to discipline.

Parenting Rule No.3 – Document your child’s progress

While observing, don’t forget to take pictures and document your child’s growth and development. It will be fun going down memory lane with them when they turn ten (10).

Parenting Rule No. 4 – Communicate

From the time your child is born, don’t stop communicating. Talk to them, sing to them, read to them, and listen to them when they speak. And finally….

Parenting Rule No.5 – Be consistent and trust worthy

If they are not allowed sweets, they are not allowed sweets. Don’t keep saying ‘you are not allowed sweet’ and then you give them sweets today and desist from doing so tomorrow. Let them know that what you say is carved in stone, that you will keep to your word and they can trust you.

That is all for now, Friends.

Which of these parenting rules resonates with you? What are your parenting rules? Do share in the comments section. Thank you.