Dan Hawkins, head football coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes, just posted a great list of things to remember when raising kids. Coach Hawkins has two boys and two girls, the last of which just left for college, and has worked with hundreds of young men through his football programs, so I respect his opinions.
Here is a taste of what's on his list. The full version can be found here.
1. Treat every event like it’s the last one, because soon it will be.
2. Make memories, DO things rather than HAVE things.
3. Get them to play a musical instrument- it will be a great developer of the mind and a way to express themselves
4. Encourage them to get a job (have a chore list). Let them learn how to earn the things they want.
5. Less is more.
6. Boy/Girl Scouts is an awesome program – most Eagle scouts are remarkable people.
7. Hug your kids often/everyday-tell them you love them often/everyday.
8. Leave your coaching hat at the office, if they have questions they will ask. They need a dad, not another coach.
9.
After the kids’ games, be concerned about “did you learn something”?
And “did you have positive experience” (then go eat some pizza and ice
cream)?
10. Teach them to solve their own problems- and let them do it.
11. Keep the computer out where you can see it and monitor it.
12.
Teach your kids to love each other. Make them hold hands when they
fight, make them say ten nice things to each other when they are mean
to each other.
13. Siblings in the same bedroom are better than separate rooms.
14. Your kids will follow more what you do, and less what you say.
15. Allow your family be around and involved in your work.
16. Dad’s talk to your girls early about sex and boys early- and keep doing it regularly.
17. Avoid the sock basket!
18. Talk to your kids regularly about sex, drugs, and alcohol use and abuse – regularly.
19.
Use every example in life to point out to your children the
consequences of behavior (good and bad) – use the paper, TV or your
own. Like spaghetti, keep throwin’ it against the wall until it sticks.
20. Eat dinner together as a family (regularly).
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