Joint families are common in India and can offer great help in raising kids. At the same time, it can be a challenging task to implement rules strictly or be able to control your kids at the key moments. It may be easier said than done, but a few tips can make your task a lot easier.
Every member should convey the same rules to the kids
One of the biggest problems that arise in a joint family is that there is more than one authority and each one may convey different rules. For instance, the kids of your cousin may set a different time for waking up or going to bed that can contradict the time that you want to set for your kids. The kids are smart and try to take advantage of these disparities in rules. The best way to deal with such a situation is to let the grandparents set a common rule for all the kids in the
Parents must have the right to take the last stand
There are a few circumstances where you may try to be strict with your kids but grandparents may allow freedom. Every parent might have certain preferences for their kids, and they must have the power to impose them in certain situations. For instance, the pocket money that should be allowed to the kids must be decided by the parents.
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Personal differences must not be sorted in open
There are bound to have issues in a joint family. It is the responsibility of the elders to keep kids away from such matters as far as possible. They can also have a negative effect on the overall development of the personality of the kids.
Teaching your child to be Tolerant
Tolerance may be big word when you compare it with your child’s mental status. But, this is the perfect stage to make your child comfortable with the differences. India is a diverse land with people from different religion and culture. Thus, it becomes even more important to give your child a right start towards tolerance.
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Understanding Tolerance
Tolerance is a broad term that includes differences in culture, traditions, gender, intellectual disabilities and everything that differentiates people. Teach your child to have the right attitude towards these differences. However, being tolerant does not mean accepting anything and everything.
Tolerance is not about Accepting Everything
Morally inappropriate behaviors like stealing, lying, dominating, bullying etc must never be accepted. You will have to help your child to differentiate between differences on the basis of morality. Observe your child’s behavior and correct him as soon as you find it inappropriate.
Why Teach Tolerance?
We are moving towards globalizations where it is important to appreciate everyone for their talent. This will help your child to fit into any society or any part of the world in future. As a parent, you must understand that your child will have to leave home and learn to adjust with others. Thus, tolerance is an important lesson for the success of your child in future.
Tolerance is less about understanding and more about accepting the differences in society from your heart. Your child is learning about the customs and traditions. He will notice the differences in outfits, traditions, customs etc as will explore the world. He will ask you about the differences and this is where you need to be wise. Make him accept these differences before he learns about these differences from outside.
Be a good role model for your child as children learn from observing their parents. Watch your behaviour and words before you teach tolerance to your kids. Also any family disputes or conflicts must be settled behind closed doors to maintain a feeling of harmony in the family.
