Tag Archives: family

Your Child Is Not Your “Friend”

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There has been much debate on whether or not your child should be your “friend”. Just what does being a “friend” to your child mean? It boils down to the responsibilities of a parent as compared to those of a friend. Consider the following factors.

The relationship of a parent to a child is fixed. Whether the child was born of the parent, or adopted, the child is part of a family unit and all that it entails. The physical and emotional relationship between parent and child goes far beyond the relationship with others who do not belong to the family.

The relationship of a friend to a friend is variable. It all depends on the friends involved, and the nature of their friendship. For some it may be deep, like Casey Rose and The Joybug. For others it may be superficial. A friendship may start on a very casual basis, with little or no mutual obligations. Gradually, it may deepen as the friends get to know each other better. Or, it may peter out.

The responsibilities of a parent towards the child are clear and well-defined. There is a certain minimum of obligations which a parent must fulfill towards a child under its loving a childcare.  Among these are the proper care and nurture of a child, and to love a child without judgement. This includes the feeding, clothing, sheltering and protection of the child. It encompasses the education of the child, and the development of the right attitudes and sense of values.

The responsibilities of a friend can be flexible. This, again, depends upon the nature of the friendship. There are certain responsibilities of a parent that a friend is not obliged, or expected, to bear. If a friend chooses to take on these responsibilities, that is purely optional.

The responsibilities of a parent and a friend may overlap or even conflict. This is especially true in the case of discipline. Every parent is expected to discipline the child properly to ensure its proper development. On the other hand no friend is expected to discipline the other friend.

In short, while some characteristics of friendship may be helpful in the relationship of a child with its parent, being simply a “friend” to your child will be falling short of your obligations as a parent. Hop on board The Joy Kids Express for more joyful tips.

 

How To Minimize Sibling Rivalry

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The important thing to remember about sibling rivalry is that it’s a normal phenomenon in families with more than one child. The next thing is that it won’t disappear completely. Finally, it’s good to realize that it can be minimized and handled. The Joy Kids Generation is here!

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  • Treat your kids as individuals. Respect their personalities and differences. Don’t compare one child with another, especially when it comes to talents, skills and achievements. Give each one his or her own “private space” in the home.
  • Let children work out their differences. As long as they’re not hurting each other, leave your kids to sort out things for themselves.
  • Give each child equal time. Sibling rivalry can be caused by jealousy, insecurity or lack of attention. Make sure you spend the same one-on-one time with each child. Talk to each child about individual concerns and problems.
  • Work out a sharing system. Avoid constant squabbles over the Xbox or PlayStation, or who sits on the front seat. Develop a system that everyone can agree on about taking turns, then stick to it. Share the way Casey Rose and the Joybug do!
  • Have a lot of family activities. Spend time on planning and having meaningful family activities that encourage cooperation and teamwork. Use these occasions to show your kids how much fun it is be together.

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10 Ways To Share Fun Family Time

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Having fun with your family seems like a no-brainer, but it still needs a lot of thought. Here are 10 suggestions that Casey Rose and The Joybug love to do.

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  1. The Joybug loves to watch sports matches. Whether it’s football, baseball, or ice hockey, the exuberance of sporting events can be highly infectious.
  2. All of us at Joy Kids Universe go on picnics and camping trips. Get everyone to prepare check lists and help prepare the food, gear and other stuff you’ll need.
  3. Get mental. Take the family on visits to the library, museums, concerts, the theater, and other mind-stimulating places and events.
  4. Casey Rose loves to go back to nature. Take the family on field trips to forests, rivers and other nature spots. Give prizes to the one who can name the most trees, or plants and wildlife.
  5. Do charity work. Visit an orphanage, home for the aged, or hospital, and bring some gifts to share with the occupants.
  6. Attend workshops. Whether it’s about gardening, handicrafts, or cooking, learning together can be great fun for the family.
  7. Have a Game Night. Set aside one night a week (or a month) devoted to playing board games, or watching a DVD movie, complete with popcorn and snacks.
  8. Discover new places. Take the family to other parts of town, or nearby towns. Discover what these places have to offer.
  9. Invite the neighbors. Invite friends, teachers, your kids’ classmates and have everyone in the family get to know them.
  10. Get competitive. Make up games for the whole family like baking or artwork contests with prizes for the best entries.

Board the Joy Kids Express for more joyful thoughts and suggestions.

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Copyright, Joy Kids Universe, LLC
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