All parents have sky-high hopes for their children. We want them to be confident and content. What can parents do to help their kids grow up to lead happy lives? Experts advise:
Helping them find their talents. In order to succeed, children need to feel they’re good at something. So expose your children to as many interests as possible; then let them choose those they like best.
Applauding their achievements. A study found that students whose parents paid attention to their abilities were far more likely to do well in school—and in life—than students whose parents didn’t show such support. So celebrate your kids’ achievements, no matter how small they are.
Praising their efforts. Kids won’t always come out on top. Still, they deserve kudos for trying their best. Ten-year-old April Cutler, for example, has had trouble with math since the second grade. “She usually gets C’s on her report card, but last year she was determined to get A’s and worked hard at it, ” says her mom. “When the first grading period ended, April was disappointed when she got a B minus in math, ” Lueille continues. “But my husband and I told her we were very proud that she’d improved. That inspired her to try even harder. She got a B plus for the next period!”
Letting them make decisions and mistakes. Making his/her own decisions increases a child’s sense of control and builds his/her self-esteem. And allowing kids to make wrong decisions—so long as doing so won’t harm them—helps kids learn from their mistakes.
Encouraging them to solve their own problems. As they grow, children need practice in communicating, standing up for themselves and compromising. One of the best places to learn these skills is at home. So the next time your child runs to you complaining that her brother is blaming her, step back and let them work it out.
【小题1】What is the purpose of the passage?| A．To encourage parents to admire their kids. | B．To show how to praise kids. |
| C．To help kids study harder. | D．To give advice on how to help kids become mature. |
| A．Praising kids’ efforts can help them make greater progress. |
| B．Setting a high goal makes kids feel discouraged. |
| C．Solving problems by themselves helps kids feel confident. |
| D．Interest is the best teacher. |
| A．Making mistakes is a normal thing for a kid. |
| B．Adults also make mistakes now and then. |
| C．Kids can learn something valuable from their mistakes. |
| D．Making mistakes won’t harm kids. |
