Parenting Advice For Raising Happy Kids

What do you think? Should they?

 

  Well, maybe not but you’d probably agree with me that

our kids need to develop their wisdom.

 

  If you are looking for sound parenting advice in order to raise wise and happy kids, you are going to flip over this one.

 

  A good part of your parenting will be teaching your children to make wise decisions. Some people have defined parenting as: “Teaching your children to make wise decisions by themselves” In essence, that’s what we’re teaching them; to be independent from us parents, someday.

 

  Some of you will probably not like to hear that: “what? My kids, independent from me? You’re kidding me!”

 

  Just listen to this. Peter Drucker, the management guru, observed changes in modern society and described our age as the Information Age or Knowledge Worker Age. He said that the biggest challenge in this age is the ability to manage ourselves and society is totally unprepared for it.

 

  We’re not prepared to make choices. In the past, if you were born a peasant, you would very likely remain that for the rest of your life…

 

  Some of the great minds in the scientific community are talking about the next age (if we make it) to be the wisdom Age. Intelligent minds like Dr.Jonas Salk (polio vaccine) and Stephen Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) are mentioning wisdom as the most important attribute to be honed.

 

  Forget survival of the fittest. It will be survival of the wisest.

 

  If you want your children to be happy and successful in this age, you need to find ways to make their wisdom tick.

 

  What is wisdom?

 

  I usually say that if information is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, wisdom knows how to invest the pot of gold.

 

  Many people win the lottery and manage to lose their fortune and become poor again. No investing wisdom there.

 

  You are probably wondering if I have any practical suggestion for you, right?

 

  It depends on your children’s age.

 

  Reading short stories and fables with them when they are young is a powerful activity for that. I read stories from the Bible with my children every Sunday as family tradition. We start the day with a special breakfast. Then we read and have funny skits as we read the Bible together. After that, we plan our day and talk about what we will do. It has worked wonders for us. You can try something similar or very different. Whatever you do, have some wisdom time for your children…

 

  When they are a bit older, you can have some problem solving Q&A sessions with them. Think of age appropriate problems. Formulate questions and ask them while driving them to school.

 

  For either younger and older children, or teens, to discuss a movie right after watching with them can become one memorable family tradition and wisdom gaining experience for your family. Take them out for a movie. Talk about the movie and its lessons, good and bad decisions the characters made etc. do it while you have you after movie meal at their favourite food place.

 

Have fun at it. Otherwise it won’t work.

 

Wishing you all the best,

 

Fabio Henri

 

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