How to Raise Balanced Children

They argue that raising truly successful children who can create for themselves a life of connection and fulfillment means raising children who are not impulsively reactive but instead have the sense of balance, resilience, personal insight, and empathy for others to be receptive to the world around them.

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• Don't overschedule

It is possible to have too much of a good thing.

• Limit screentime

Research indicates that too much screentime has adverse affects on children's developing brains. I limit my children to know more than two hours of screentime a day, including phones, computers, and television. Negative behavior means curbed screentime rewards, particularly since the child might require more oversight to ensure screentime rules are being followed. Limited screentime allows children to be more selective with how they use it, and also allows them a greater range of creativity in how they use their downtime.

• Encourage reading

When people say they don't enjoy reading, I firmly believe they just haven't found the right book. I read about two books a week through audiobooks on a range of topics, both fiction and non-fiction, and require my children to read the recommended 20 minutes a day. Reading increases brain function and memory by keeping the mind cognitively stimulated. Non-fiction reading expands knowledge and understanding of the world around us, and develops confidence in learning, while fiction creates empathy as children see the world through characers' eyes and experiences. I can't think of a better way to prepare children for a navigating adulthood than knowing how to learn and find answers, as well as be able to reach outside themselves to others around them.

• Have together time

• Model good behavior

• Plan brainy activities

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