Different homes come with different rules, some more lax and some more strict than yours. If your child is spending a lot of time at your friend’s home, they will be influenced by your friend’s parenting style. Although you value your friendship, sometimes these differences in parenting styles can be a challenge as they begin to impact your child.
You’re busy making dinner, chatting away with your friend on the phone and your child overhears some of the conversation. Your child might ask, “What were you talking about? Why did you say that? What does that mean?” You pause, and then consider, “How do I explain what they heard? How much do they need to know?”
Many of us can think back on a childhood filled with memories of playing outside with our friends, building forts, riding our bikes, exploring, and taking risks. Most children today do not have those same experiences, as outdoor risky play has been rapidly disappearing from childhood over the past few generations. According to ParticipACTION (2020), only 21 percent of Canadian children play more than an hour and a half outside each day.
As caregivers, we all want to raise healthy, happy, and independent children who are empathetic, resilient and creative thinkers, all while having the confidence to take on the world.
Sounds easy, right?
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2024 Calgary’s Child
