Excerpted from Ken's Parenting Guide
Leadership
Parents are the leaders of the family. Parents lead children
in growth and development toward adulthood. Parents lead by example. Leadership is not power. Leadership is wisdom.
Vision / Long Term Desired Outcome
In order to lead, parents
need to have a sense of what their long-term desired outcome is. As a parent,
what are you trying to accomplish in raising children? Having a good sense of
the desired outcome will help you navigate through difficulties more
effectively. Keep the big picture and the long-term plan in mind. Don't get
lost in the small stuff, the immediate challenges.
Know Your Family's Value System
Keep your value system at the forefront of your parenting
effort. Write it down. Talk with your children about your values. Parents
instill values in their children gradually over time. Live according to your
value system. Guide accordingly.
Keep the Whole Child in Mind
Often as parents we lose sight of the whole child and begin
to focus too vigorously on the problems, concerns, and shortcomings. As
parents, it's important to attend to the whole child, to develop children across the many years into
well-rounded adults.
Focus on Constructive Feedback
Avoid using negative feedback and criticism. Keep the
feedback loop corrective, constructive, positive and uplifting; pointing toward
the long-term desired outcome. As parents we are constructing, building-up our
children toward adulthood, not tearing them down.
Build Strength - Strengthen Weakness
Raise resilient children, strengthen and develop character
and skills patiently, intentionally, and incrementally across the many years of
child development. Help your children develop the strengths and skills
necessary to cope effectively with the difficulties of life and to succeed
despite obstacles. Do not avoid weaknesses - strengthen weaknesses through a
planned, intentional, practice-to-mastery approach.
Strength is nurtured, not demanded.
Kenneth H. Little, MA / 135 Lee Brook Road / Thornton, NH
03285 / 603-726-1006 / Achieve-ES.com
