Here are 10 important lessons to teach your son before he hits puberty, says DR RICHARD C. WOOLSON.
Here are 10 important lessons to teach your son before he hits puberty, says DR RICHARD C. WOOLSON.
Have confidence in himself and his abilities Regularly remind your child that he has a wonderful nature, is clever and talented, and fun to be with. If he feels good about himself, he’ll enjoy life better, achieve more and have good resilience for coping with difficulties in life.
Stay away from kids who get into trouble Some kids are attracted to other children who misbehave, are anti-social and regularly break the rules – the lure of excitement can push Junior’s common sense out the window. Advise him to keep his distance from such pupils, even if he is tempted to befriend them.
Join a club or an adultsupervised activity Whether at school or in the community club, your son will benefit from taking part in a group activity that is supervised by an adult. Find an activity he is interested in (for instance, sport) and encourage him to participate. He’ll also make new friends there.
Try to resist peer pressure Boys seem to be particularly susceptible to peer pressure at this age, and are more easily influenced by children who are leaders. Encourage your nine-year-old to think for himself, and to make his own decisions rather than automatically do what his friends want him to do.
Say “no” to smoking if he is offered Chances are, he’ll get to know someone in his school who has sneaked his parent’s cigarettes from home and circulated these around the playground. Make it clear to him that he must never try smoking, under any circumstances. Neither should he touch alcohol and, worse, drugs.
Treat girls respectfully and thoughtfully Children often start to become interested in opposite-gender friends at this age, although boys sometimes deal with this by showing off in front of girls or even by being rude to them. Let him know that he should behave kindly and sensitively to everyone, whether a boy or girl.
Never swear or be rude to others Society generally tolerates foul language and rudeness more from boys than from girls, and this attitude cascades down to the school playground. Telling you “I was only copying what I heard in the playground, Mum” is not an acceptable excuse for cursing or swearing.
Share his worries with you Even though he is now more mature, you are still there to help him when things become stressful. If there is a problem he cannot solve himself, or if he gets worried, he should share this with you so that you can support him.
Draw up a study plan for homework and exam preparation The volume of homework increases greatly at this stage in Junior’s learning. To keep up with these educational demands, formulate a plan for regular revision at home. It also helps ensure he can complete his homework every night.
Know that you love him unconditionally, no matter what happens There is nothing more important than showing your child that you love him for who he is. Your love is permanent and unconditional, no matter how much or how little he achieves, no matter what he does in life. He can always rely on your unreserved love and acceptance.
