11 Great Tips On How To Raise A Strong-Willed Child

Here are some helpful tips on how to raise a strong willed child:

1. Develop your own strong, skillful and trans-personal will, not discarding the place of quality wisdom.

2. Be your age. Never try to come down as low as a buddy for the strong-willed child. You are the parent, not the friend.

3. Continually show the child how much you care.

4. Simplifying life for the child goes a long way. Curtail TV and video time and make creative tools available for the child to exercise his own imagination.

5. Puzzles and asking him thinking questions will help in developing his inner resources therefore, do this often.

6. Guide him into recognizing his will, love and abilities as this will increase his self-esteem.

7. Set limits on inappropriate behaviour. This is so important. “Time-outs” works best with some children, while with other children, depriving them of certain benefits works better. Be careful not to let the child get that feeling that he is abandoned at this time.

8. Build up a community of people with similar values to create a “ healthy village” for the child. This should include neighbors, teachers, friends, a counselor and a physician.

9. Create an environment where there are options to make choices from, give him reasons and consequences for different behaviors and leave the choice to him. This gives him the feeling as though he is in charge of his life and when he makes the wrong choice, consequences need to be effected.

10. Respecting choices is a way to make life easier with the child. The more situations in which they can choose, the better off he is. At the same time, there needs to be a limit to the number of choices you offer him. Children under twelve can manage two options easily while after twelve can handle three options.

11. Believe in him and show him that you do. Being your child’s advocate in school and the community makes life simpler with him.