Our children today are living in a fast moving society which often times creates stress where it should not necessarily occur.  Homes and the best elementary schools should be places where our kids can simply feel comfortable and cared for.  There are ways that we can provide for our children’s safety and well-being while still not sheltering them from real life realities.  In other words, this balancing act needs a good blend of helping to build a solid sense of individual strength while maintaining an established support system.  Ultimately, we want our kids to be able to stand on their own two feet as they mature through each level of childhood. 

The following is a list of suggestions that might be helpful to assist children to grow into responsible and caring adults.

1. Respect Them – As an private, independent school, Oak Hill Academy holds respect high on the traits list we wish for all of our community.  As role models, we can demonstrate how we must treat each other.
2. Be understanding when they have a difficult day.  Children especially need that helping hand when things don’t go as planned.
3. Give them good choices and encourage them to make good thought out decisions.
4. Respect the choices they make.  Either with play, friends, hobbies, and school.
5. Be silly together!  Nothing brings families together than a good laugh.
6. Make time to be with them.  Heavy schedules often mean limited time together as a family.  Make the best of these by having quality time together.
7. Let them play outside.  Being outdoors has a great many benefits including fresh air, nature study, and room to run.
8. Inspire their creativity.  Young children must be encouraged to explore by writing, drawing and building.
9. Help them learn something new.  Today our world is an open door to adventure everywhere be it in museums, other countries, or via the Internet.
10. Accept them as they are.  Children are unique in their personalities and mannerisms.  Take these as special gifts and allow them to grow.
11. Talk honestly with them.  Families are dynamic social institutions.  Honest dialogue can build strength and endurance.
12. Trust them.  There will be times when a little slack can bring a more willingness for children to confide when times become difficult.
13. Be available.  Often children simply just need that assuring word or look.
14. Encourage them to help others.  Besides the obvious benefit to others, we get some special internal rewards when we reach out to others.
15. Daydream with them.  Remember, the best is yet to come.  Dreams are the starting point to a life filled with possibilities.
16. Encourage them to think big.  Remember when we shoot for the sky, even if we miss, we will be amongst the stars.
17. Help them learn from mistakes.  Taking some well thought out risks often don’t work out.  However, mistakes lead to great corrections which prepare us better for the next try.  Remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
18. Tell them what you expect of them.  Believe it or not, children really do want our guidance when going forward.  As parents and teachers, our expectations for them as they move forward provides valuable guideposts.
19. Expect their best; don’t expect perfection.  People’s talents are like seeds, needing patience and energy to grow.  Add time to this mix and our best keeps getting better.
20. Give them independence.  Achieving one’s best means venturing out and gaining the ability to steer our own ship.  Personal greatness starts with independence.  As adults, we must give our kids the space to feel in control of what they experience.
21. Help them cope.  Ever have a bad day?  Guess what, it is a part of the human condition.  Human experiences have the full range of emotions from fear to glee.  Getting through bad times builds strength and resilience.  Our kids need our understanding when things happen.  Have faith, they’ll bounce back.
22. Help them find a passion and support their desire.  As our children pass through their formative years, they pick up signals of what in life makes them feel rewarded.  With your assistance, this passion will grow no matter where it is found.  Science, music, business, art, technology, education, writing, media, etc.  Let them explore.
23. And last, but not least! Love them, no matter what!