Discouragement is a terrible thing to happen to a person, especially to a child. As a non-profit organization in Houston, Texas, we believe that no parent will ever want to discourage their children. Instead, they always work hard towards pushing them for their own successes. Parents would love to see their children make their mark in their personal lives so that they will grow mature, confident, and independent. For parents like you, nothing is more rewarding than to see your children grow up to be mature and responsible individuals. Would you agree?

However, what we may not realize is that we may have been doing some things that we think are encouraging, but have turned out discouraging for them. This can affect the way they see life, themselves, and even their future. As advocates for Child Education International, we hope to uncover these practices in this post. Consider the following:

• More criticism, less praise

  It’s very essential for parents to provide corrections to their children’s wrongdoing. They have to know the difference between right and wrong so that they will be able to do the former and avoid the latter. However, what parents may have overlooked is the fact that they have already ended up highlighting the wrong behaviors every time. The child needs to also see the good things they have been doing, and it is these acts that should be reinforced. It helps to remember that for every correction you give, you also provide equivalent praise.

• Not Taking Your Child’s Interest Seriously

  In the busyness of parenthood, we may often overlook the little interests of our children. For instance, they may be fond of throwing the ball around but you stop them outright because they may break a glass which can injure them. While your intentions are pure, you may have sent the message that their interests are not that important. To resolve this, you can move away any breakable items or encourage them to play in their room or in a designated play area.

• Too High Expectations

  Even to toddlers, parents can become very excited to hear them say their first complete sentence, or recite the counting numbers in order for the first time. At their age, these are the normal achievements of a child, and as they grow older, they will also have progress fit to that age. Avoid expecting too much from your child, such as being disappointed when, at age 7, they were not able to solve division of two-digit numbers. Instead, stay focused on how they’re growing in their age so they can also enjoy their learning experiences.

Being a Literacy Foundation International Incorporated in Houston, Texas, USA, we recognize that parents always put their child’s best interests at heart. With this, we encourage you to also help other parents in empowering their children through quality education. Donate for our scholarship programs for Nigerian children at Chief Stephen O. Nwankwo Children’s Literacy Foundation International Incorporated. Ask us how you can make this step.