Raising a family is a rewarding experience that can occasionally present unique challenges, especially if you have multiple kids. Ensuring they are healthy and happy, along with maintaining your career and personal life, is a feat accomplished with hard work and constant adaptions to your everyday routine.

Don’t let the sometimes chaotic nature of your day prevent you from raising well-rounded, thoughtful, and productive people. Here, we have gathered a list of 4 life lessons, including both practical and moral behaviors, that you should not neglect to teach your children.

 

1) The Importance of Oral Hygiene

Did you know that tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood disease, even in first-world places like Canada? Tooth decay is caused by improper oral hygiene. Without a parent’s guidance, children are unable to understand the importance of focused oral hygiene habits. 

When they are too young to perform these habits themselves, take initiative and be sure to dutifully brush their teeth twice a day and floss once a day. As they become older and are able to take charge of their own oral hygiene, check in occasionally and educate them of the benefits of proper oral hygiene.   

According to vellorewoodsdentistry.com/, gingivitis and other forms of gum disease can result from both improper at-home oral hygiene and a lack of regular professional cleanings. Take your child to the dentist for regular appointments to give them the best chance at maintaining good oral and general health. 

Instilling proper oral hygiene into your child’s life will give them a valuable life skill. They will save money on expensive and unnecessary dental procedures. Good oral hygiene also sets them up for health later in life as they will be less likely to suffer from kidney disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer, and respiratory infections, all of which can occur as the result of inflamed or infected gums. 

2) Good Financial Habits

Establishing good financial habits with your children at a young age can help guide their financial decisions as adults. Encourage smart choices, stimulate financial conversations, and be sure to teach them:

• The concept of opportunity costs
• To thoroughly think through their financial decisions and to avoid impulsivity
• The difference between a want and a need
• How to save and manage their money

No matter how young your children are, you can begin teaching them smart financial habits. Set them up with a piggy bank, so they can learn to put money away and not immediately spend it. If your children are older and have part-time jobs, consider signing them up for a savings account where they can choose to put some of their money aside for future goals. 

3) Responsibility

As a parent, you are not your children’s maid. On that note, they are not your personal servants. Establish chores for each child and lead by example. 

Select age-appropriate chores based on the dexterity and knowledge that is demanded of each task. Even children younger than 5 can perform chores like picking up their toys and transporting dirty clothes to their hamper. Chores make for more responsible and self-reliant children. 

4) To Speak Up for Themselves and Others

Advocating for yourself is an invaluable skill that can help people succeed in their professional and personal lives. By actively listening to and addressing your children’s concerns, you will teach them the benefits of always communicating their feelings and asking questions. 

Fostering a home environment filled with positivity and kindness can help your child become a thoughtful friend who sticks up for peers in distress. This will give them a moral compass they can rely on throughout all stages of their teenage and adult lives. 

Make time in your schedule to teach your children these 4 life lessons and behaviors. In the end, they will make your job as a parent easier and help you raise independent, principled children!