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Connect with Your Child but Don't Overdo it
We all want to connect and be involved with our child. Children of in
volved parents generally feel more confident, assured and have a highe
r level of self esteem. They excel in school and do well in extracurr
icular activities and with their hobbies.
But is there such a thing as too much involvement? It's imperative w
hen you're becoming involved with your school-aged child's activitie
s and academics that you recognize the line of what being too involv
ed can be.
Remember, you're becoming involved in your child's life. It's importa
nt that you don't intrude too much upon it. Children need their space
and privacy and they need to be able to develop their own skills, tal
ents and abilities. In our eagerness to help our child succeed, it's
tempting to want to step in and start doing things for them because yo
u feel they are doing it incorrectly or inadequately. But remember, y
ou had to learn too, and this is their chance to learn on their own.
Be there to encourage and support your child, and offer praise at a j
ob well done. But also remember to step back and allow your child to
learn from their own mistakes, and to develop their own way of doing
things. We all know from our own life experiences that there's alway
s more than just one way to do something, and just because your child
is doing it differently than you would doesn't make it wrong. Who k
nows, it could present a terrific pportunity for you to learn from y
our child as well.
In addition, try not to become too overbearing or nosy when it comes t
o their social life. Be available for them should they need to talk a
nd encourage them to share their troubles with you so you can help the
m sort through a problem. But if they say they don't want to talk abo
ut it or they just need some time to figure things out for themselves,
respect that need by letting them know you're available whenever they
need you. This is an important part of growing up and allowing