Clean Slate

[feller469]

My five year old is just learning about the world outside his short-attention-span immediate perimeter. What I need is for people to present their cases on topics that will not only help shape his personality but also his future.

Now, please post your topics and reasons why I should present these to my kid.

(Inspiration for this thread comes from Lovejoy cuz he fucked up the last thread I started)

 

[somebadlemonade]

you might start showing him cool things, try to make them fun and teach him something in the process.

I'd say the mentos and diet cola thing but that's super messy and a little hard to explain to adults let alone an average 5 year old. . .

 

[Hot Mega]

Assuming you are fairly knowledgeable, self-reliant and have moderate to advanced skills...I would say just have him with you during any DIY projects you undertake...he'll learn far more from watching your example than you telling him.

Depending on your skill and general knowledge level him watching you and eventually helping where possible will likely promote in him independence and self-reliance.

If you're not skilled or particularly knowledgeable, research camps and workshops you can take him to where you both can participate.

He's bound to have his own personality so just expose him to as many thing as you can as consistently as possible to allow his interests to pique and gravitate naturally to the things you reasonably believe will help make his life fruitful and productive.

As he gets older, I would say expose him to the nature of competition and that the only true competition we ever face is with ourselves to make ourselves better than we are and through that, winning and success is possible. Since a consequence of competing is risk of loss or defeat and since in life the average person is far more likely to experience loss than winning, failure than success and "no" rather than "yes"...teach him how to learn from loss and to lose competitively but gracefully:2 cents:

 

[shayd]

I think he just needs to experience life. Let him do his thing, and guide him as you see fit. Hopefully you'll be one of the rare parents these days who teach their children to think for themselves rationally.

 

[BlueBalls]

You shouldnt try to shape his personality, let that shape itself. Basically .... what Shayd said ^^^ :hatsoff:

I dont have children so you can choose to listen to me or not

 

[Jagger69]

I would expose him to as many experiences as possible (safe and reasonable ones of course) and I would try to instill a few specific ideals in him. Strive to achieve happiness by finding and following your passion. Don't lust for money or material things....seek peace of mind instead. Be compassionate, kind and generous with others. See all people as individuals and don't be prejudicial. Love as many people as you can and cherish the love you receive in return. Seek spiritual awareness.

If you do this, the proper and appropriate topics will present themselves.

 

[Hot Mega]

You shouldnt try to shape his personality, let that shape itself.

I would suggest if you allow a child to go from 5 to 15 with no guidance shaping his own personality.....he'll be one of two places by the time he's 25....in your basement playing xbox eating potato chips or in jail.

 

[feller469]

OOOOhhhhhhh the disappointment. I was hoping to read all the right-wing pundits' diatribes.

Honestly though, it was nice to see honest advice. I think the ex and I are doing a good job. the kids are smart, well-behaved (from the ex's side of the family) and athletic.

Thanks for doing the right thing with this bad idea for a thread.

 

[skechers]

Buy him a child's guitar. I know they sell them at Walmart, couldn't be more than a hundred dollars. Read some chord books and tablature, and teach him the basics. Not only does it train hand/eye cooridnation, music is calming, and supports deep, complex thinking. Learning an instrument was one of the best things I've ever done.

Take him fishing. Camping. Hiking. Hunting. Get him outdoors.

 

[alexpnz]

Expose him to any and all sorts of music....:thumbsup:

 

[BlueBalls]

I would suggest if you allow a child to go from 5 to 15 with no guidance shaping his own personality.....he'll be one of two places by the time he's 25....in your basement playing xbox eating potato chips or in jail.

I didnt mean take a back seat altogether by all means give the kid guidance. What I meant was dont force the kid into taking on your (the parents) views just because you are the one raising them, which is completely different from what you're talking about. For example: supporting your sports team, accepting your churche or religion, being told what to think when it comes to politics because they are the views of the parent etc. A kid shouldnt be forced into participating in such events because it is part of the parents world. When they are old enough to make their own minds up then allow them to choose what they would lke to get involved in.

Or they'll be peer pressured into it by their friends, so the circle of life continues.

 

[feller469]

OOOOhhhhhhh the disappointment. I was hoping to read all the right-wing pundits' diatribes.

Honestly though, it was nice to see honest advice. I think the ex and I are doing a good job. the kids are smart, well-behaved (from the ex's side of the family) and athletic.

Thanks for doing the right thing with this bad idea for a thread.

Again, i came up with this thread with an agenda in mind. It was not a good idea for a thread, nor was it honest. I regret putting it up.

that said, you guys have done the right thing with a bad idea. thanks for taking the high road and doing the right thing.

 

[STDiva]

Teach him about jesus, and religion. Can't go wrong.

 

[tunsty]

I don't know what sort of location you live in, but a trip to the seaside is bound to do wonders for his interest.
Or how about a field trip.. I know it sounds boring, but take a butterfly net along and a guide to wildlife.. you may learn a few things yourself! :hatsoff:

 

[Skyraider22]

I think he just needs to experience life. Let him do his thing, and guide him as you see fit. Hopefully you'll be one of the rare parents these days who teach their children to think for themselves rationally.

I agree with shayd just let him do his thing and watch him grow and learn I have kids and watching them grow into their own with guildance is outsatnding:thumbsup:

 

[afkallthetiem]

get him hooked on cigarettes thats a good age to start