5 Things your children need to hear you say

Our children are the greatest gifts God has given us. It is our responsibility to love them and help them to grow into responsible happy adults. 

Below are five things your children need to hear you say often:

I love you – This first one seems so simple, but so many children don’t hear this often enough. Along with telling our child we love them, we need to show it. Children thrive when they feel loved!

You are a good boy/girl – This is principal number one in discipline. We need to assure them that they are good. Then they are better equipped to modify their behavior

.

I am proud of you – Our children want to please us. When we tell them we are proud of them, it boosts their self esteem because they have achieved in pleasing us.

You are smart – This is another self esteem booster! Mom and Dad think I’m smart!!

You can do it – When we let them know we believe in them, it helps them to believe in themselves.

One of my favorite poems….

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel envy . . .
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty ...
BUT
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .
If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative . . .
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love . .
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves..
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .
If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .
If a child lives with friendliness, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .”

― Dorothy Law Nolte, Children Learn What They Live: Parenting to Inspire Values