| The New Year is a time for people to take stock and | | | | 5. Consider how you are supporting your child. Are you |
| to make plans for the coming year. People often set | | | | offering age-appropriate support for their physical, |
| personal or business goals but how about considering | | | | emotional, intellectual, financial and spiritual |
| what you would like your goal as a parent to be for | | | | development? |
| 2008? What do you want to achieve in your | | | | 6. What are your current ways of encouraging |
| relationship with your child this year? What would you | | | | responsibility in your child? Are you increasing |
| like to be doing more of with your child? What would | | | | opportunities for them to do things on their own as |
| you like to be doing less? | | | | they get older? Do you encourage your child to try |
| As our children grow and develop it is never too late | | | | new things and learn from their mistakes, putting more |
| to reassess our way of being with them and to make | | | | emphasis on their effort rather than success? |
| changes towards having an even more loving and | | | | 7. Reflect upon your child's independence. As they |
| fulfilling relationship, while letting go of control and | | | | develop how are you ensuring they gain independence |
| allowing them to develop responsibility and | | | | from you? Are you letting them go gradually as they |
| independence. Here are seven ways to improve your | | | | get older? |
| relationship with your child, be they a youngster or a | | | | Perhaps your goal as a parent for this year may be to |
| teenager. Perhaps some of these may help you to set | | | | keep on learning. This truly is one of the greatest gifts |
| your own parenting goal for the coming year. | | | | we can give our children - to continually learn more |
| 1. Think about respecting your child more. What are | | | | about them as they grow and change as well as to |
| their qualities that shine for you? Tell them about them. | | | | learn to keep pace with our parenting role. Some |
| 2. Consider how well you listen to your child. Do you | | | | suggestions to consider may be reading a parenting |
| stop what you are doing and look at them when they | | | | book or two this year, keeping up to date about drugs |
| are talking to you? Do you allow them to express their | | | | if you have a teenager, or attending a parent-coaching |
| opinion without interrupting or taking over from them? | | | | workshop - a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow |
| 3. Reflect on how well you understand and know your | | | | as well as be with other parents. |
| child. Do you know what their favourite song or movie | | | | Whatever you choose for your own parenting goal for |
| is, for example? Do you listen to them deeply and | | | | this year - one thing is certain - that because you care |
| encourage them to share their feelings? | | | | enough to think and plan your parenting, your child will |
| 4. Think about how you show your child you | | | | definitely benefit. |
| appreciate them. Do you tell them? Do you spend time | | | | All the best for your parenting in 2008 - may it be a |
| with them or give them hugs? Do you very | | | | year of loving and close connection between you and |
| occasionally give them a little something with no strings | | | | your child. |
| attached? | | | | |