Four Challenges in One-Child Education
The only son conditions are different from those children who have one or more siblings, which is not “good” or “bad”, only that the parents have other educational challenges to conquer.
In different circumstances, some families are made up of father, mother and child (a), and this family structure requires extra effort from parents, which is to give the child the necessary tools to keep their status as “only” affects you their educational development, and later as adults.
It is also true that the only child can be more creative because it must find ways to entertain him also has good relationships with adults and may look older (psychologically) for their constant imitation and observation of the adults around him.
Being excellent virtues, the only son is also difficult some others, which is up to parents to provide these “gaps” to avoid becoming a selfish, capricious, vain and weak to establish relationships with their peers.
A family educator, said: “The most important thing to keep in mind the parents who decide to have one child, that child does not give much relevance in the home that may come to believe is unique in the world . Even if he or she can be very special for your dad and mom, is as special as the other children for the rest of the parents. And it will be hard to accept if it is convinced that the only being exceptional in the world and those around you who must live bent to his will. “
As always, it is valid to clarify that not all only children behave the same way, because if the parents do a good job, they will not have to contend with this inconvenience.
The four main challenges facing parents of only children are:
* Strengthen the generosity.
Having no siblings, the child can make it difficult to share. It can also be somewhat intolerant on the issue of coexistence not be obliged to give in to the spaces, material things, etc. A good strategy to neutralize this potential weakness is to invite you to give away toys they no longer use but are in good shape, spend time with other children and to set limits and rules to control their appetites.
In some cases it works that boys take charge of a pet, because the fact of ensuring their care, food, cleanliness … take them to strive, to make them more accountable, and generous with their time.
* Develop social skills.
It is quite natural in the child who has no brothers, who feel some loneliness. Even when surrounded by much love from their parents, grandparents and other family, every child needs to have friends their own age. Again, we must ensure open spaces for leisure activities with other children, not just in their school or preschool, but also outside of these school settings. This should start from social skills that are small and cash them a little introduction, other groups, so that when you are older is not an impediment.
It is likely that the parent-child relationship is more rooted attachment to normal and those momentary separations (such as travel, admission to college, etc…) It can be somewhat difficult. This will require setting times of separation, such that the child goes to sleep at a friend’s house, sharing with the cousins for a weekend, etc.
* Beware of exclusive parental attention.
It is understandable that parents are very apprehensive, more than it should-with his only son, but this much attention makes them great harm to both. This risk should be avoided because it usually excess is accompanied by over-attention, which causes considerable personal training process.
The only child has parents all to himself, does not have to share with anyone else and so it has your full attention. When there is no restraint on the part of parents, it is likely that the child was moody and look again is the center of attention at all costs, which will bring enough trouble.
So when the child has difficulty with other children either in school or in other contexts, parents should support but not blindly defend the point of preventing suffering, as he must learn to deal with these situations are quite common in the rest of his life.
* Boost safety, self-esteem and independence.
For the same reason explained in the previous section, these boys are too dependent on their parents. Care should be taken that will go to the normal rhythm of their peers and begin developing physical and intellectual skills appropriate to their age. So parents should object to do things they are able to do, like let alone eat, dress, do their homework, prepare clothes and all the tasks of daily living.
