As a working parent, you must handle both your work and home and balance them so that neither one gets the short end of the stick. We understand that, at times, this is difficult to manage, and you can unconsciously start concentrating on your work more. However, such behavior can impact your children negatively as they begin to feel neglected.
One of your most crucial roles as a parent is to take time out and celebrate your child’s achievements, however small they may be. Appreciation doesn’t only apply to small kids, but even to adults. Your encouragement gives their life the purpose and the push they need to move forward.
If you think your child is getting distant from you, your lack of acknowledgment of their efforts can be behind it. We’ll discuss some details below, so keep reading.
Why You Need to Celebrate Your Children’s Life
Appreciating a child’s accomplishments is a big part of their childhood and shapes them into their future self. Your child will put their heart into achieving the victory, and not considering it will negatively influence their development as they start seeking external validation throughout their lives because they wouldn’t have gotten it from their own parents. As a result, your child’s psychology will be at stake.
Proper appreciation can increase your child’s self-esteem as confidence and self-worth go hand in hand with acknowledgment and celebration. Not appreciating their achievements can make them believe they’re not good enough, making them spiral toward self-doubt and anxiety. This is very unhealthy for the child, and might influence their future actions as their confidence deteriorates and they begin to hesitate in carrying out tasks.
Acknowledging your child’s achievements is also necessary for helping them choose an aim in life. They won’t be hesitant to try new things and can easily find something they’re good at. It also helps them develop an optimistic worldview. Your child’s future self will be mentally strong and ready to face the world’s challenges. Their adulthood will be successful, and they will be a source of inspiration for others.
How to Celebrate Your Children’s Achievements
Celebrating your child’s victories comes in many forms. It can be as simple as a few genuine words of praise or can take the form of a reward ritual. Put in some extra effort and get involved with your children by keeping track of their every win and step, as your reaction and attention will affect their personality. You need to tell them that they did well and deserve recognition for their actions and hard work.
Before we proceed, do keep in mind that appreciation isn’t about pressure. Don’t analyze every action they take. They might not have gotten a good grade or may not want to share it with you. In such cases, ease into the conversation and ask if anything good happened today. You also need to be careful in differentiating between what specifies as an accomplishment and what doesn’t. Sometimes, overpraising can lead to overconfidence, which is unsuitable for the child’s development. Remember that you need to instill confidence in them, not feed their pride.
Here are four ways you can celebrate your child’s victory while handling work on the side:
1. Take Out Time
As a working parent, you must balance parenting and work and give them both equal time. During your home time, give your attention to your child. Ask them about their day. Children, especially young ones, love sharing their stories with their parents. Genuinely invest your time, ask them about their homework, and congratulate them on any effort. It could be an A on a test, a star on their homework, or a new friend they made.
Do remember that celebrating your child’s victories does not depend on age. College students are as in need of approval as kids. You should be aware of your child’s degree or course and try conversing with them about it. Ease into the conversation and encourage them to share rather than examine everything critically. Appreciate them for completing their degree or course, be it a short course or an online one such as online ABSN programs. The duration should also not matter; an associate is just as hard as a bachelor’s.
2. Display Their Achievements
Sometimes children can bring you anything they’ve made or drawn home. Try displaying their artwork on the fridge or frame it. They will then feel that their actions are worthwhile. If your child has just completed their degree try framing that too and hang it on the wall. Discuss their achievements with your colleagues or other parents in front of your children, especially if they’re young. This will boost their self-worth, and nothing elevates a child’s happiness more than seeing their parents discuss their accomplishments. Be verbal about how proud you are of them.
3. Give Rewards
You must be careful with this one because excessive rewards can also make the child arrogant or believe they should always get a materialistic gift. The younger the child is, the more prone they are to developing such mindsets. Be thoughtful and teach them to be grateful. Construct a sheet that specifies what chore or achievement is worth rewarding physically. Try not to go overboard on the gift; its price shouldn’t be what makes it valuable.
If you indulge them in giving them the latest games since childhood, the teen years will be challenging for you to handle. Instead, buy them small things that make them happy. Your gift should be something that gets their creative juices running and inspires them to try new things.
4. Reward Them With a Trip
A small intimate picnic with the whole family to celebrate your child’s achievement is enough to lift their spirits and make them feel good about themselves. Take out time on the weekend and plan something for your family. Treat it as a refueling trip before you continue with the daily grind. Then, among your family, discuss your child’s recent achievement and tell them how proud you are of them.
Endnote
Celebrating achievements and efforts are essential for children of all ages. Kids strive to work hard and gain validation. It gives them a purpose and makes them increase their efforts. For children, their parent’s approval matters the most. You must make your child feel worthy and boost their self-esteem as a parent. If you’re a working parent, we know you have it tough, but you must invest time in your child’s life as this will impact their growth and psychology.
