The Benefits of Being Open
There are many benefits that can be offered by being open with your child. It is important that you are not selective with what you are able to be open with your child about. Having discussions with your child about issues they are facing or things that they may be thinking of doing can provide great opportunities for you as a parent to instill morals into them. Children naturally look for guidance; it is how we as humans work. It is important that you offer that guidance in a positive way.
These discussions can offer many positive moral influences to your child. It will teach them to be accountable for their actions. It will teach them right from wrong. It will teach them about sticking to their goals. One of the most important things it will teach them is to have integrity and be honest no matter what the consequences are.
It is important for you to be aware of the fact that you have to do half of the work in this process. It is also important that you be aware of the fact that you will likely hear things that upset or disappoint you while you have an open relationship with your child.
You must keep your head together if you want this process to work. If you cannot appropriately react to a situation you are neither helping your child nor giving them a positive example of how to handle their issues in the future. No matter what you hear you have to approach it with a level head.
You have to remember and appreciate the fact that your child is coming to you for guidance. As much as something angers you, it is important that you do not speak to your child like you are mad at them. You must show that you understand and while you do not have to like the discussion you must respect them for coming to you.
It will help this process greatly if you show your child that they are building trust with you by being open with you. Give them a little bit more privileges or let them do a few things you couldn’t trust them to do before such as staying out late with friends or borrowing the family car.