Although it might seem pretty corny to a lot of folks today, the old Andy Griffith Show really did have a lot of common sense family values that we could learn from today.
Take for instance the episode "Bailey's Bad Boy" that guest starred Bill Bixby as a spoiled rich teenager who wanted his rich dad to bail him out of jail once he got in trouble in Mayberry. Bixby's character sees the perfect example of parenting from Andy when Taylor makes Opie stand on his own two feet and pay for a window he had broken. Too often in real life we bail our kids out of everything. You don't really do your kid a favor when you take away any chance they might have of getting a personal sense of responsibility. No matter how small the occurrence if your child breaks something even by accident, take the time to explain to the child the importance of taking responsibility for the things we do. I'm not saying you should get angry and act like the Incredible Hulk, just explain to the kid that if he breaks things or makes a mess he has to clean it up, and then make sure they do.
One of the most famous episodes of Andy Griffith was the episode entitled "Opie the Birdman". Opie accidentally kills a mother bird leaving her baby birds all alone. Andy doesn't sugar coat the situation. He doesn't yell and scream like a cat under a rocking chair either. He just simply opens a window and let's Opie hear the baby birds crying for their mother, and points out to Opie the hard fact that his actions have consequences. Sometimes we shelter our kids from every type of responsibility possible, while at the same time allowing them to absorb hours of violence and sex on the TV and video games.
Today we have more than made sure our kids have material things. They have video games, televisions in their room, so many toys there is not enough time to play with them, but we shirk our responsibility on the biggest, most important part of raising a kid, the part where you actually raise them up to be adults. Fun and toys are great. Every child ought to have fun, but they should be slowly growing up too. So my humble suggestion is like Andy Taylor said make sure your boy or girl can stand on their own two feet. No opportunity is too small to begin instilling these important lessons. It's just like the Bible says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. "
Taking your kid fishing like Andy did Opie is not that bad either. If that isn't your cup of tea then surely you can enjoy going to the park with your kid or playing something outside. Most kids never seem to want to venture outside anymore. They're missing an important part of development and growing more and more obese every year. Health is another important aspect of life that kids need to take responsibility for. Even children are developing diabetes, which they wouldn't have normally, due to diet and lack of physical activity. The fact of the matter is, in the long run protecting our kids from facing the consequences of their actions today will mean greater consequences later down the line. So be like Andy and open the window and let your kid hear the birds, and don't be afraid to let him or her pay for a broken window occasionally.
webmaster of Tvcrazy.net TV News & Merchandise
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
Learning obedience is an important part of child development. This... Read More
Do you have a wild child? Then this article may... Read More
As thinking, acting human beings we have the ability to... Read More
Puberty can be a difficult time for children. Not quite... Read More
We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More
The citizens of the early Roman Republic enjoyed an education... Read More
No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
Parents are losing their self-control to anger. A friend called... Read More
Impulsivity is one of the hallmarks of people with Attention... Read More
We are all so very happy to see that the... Read More
The children of Baby Boomers, the Echo Generation, are entering... Read More
Frankly, as a single parent of young children, I struggled.... Read More
Does the homework battle so typical with your hyperactive or... Read More
Q. "What do you want to be when you grow... Read More
Every summer our daughter goes to summer camp. She looks... Read More
Software for parental control is a useful tool, if applied... Read More
It's sometimes difficult to find ways to be involved with... Read More
Advocate: you've probably heard the term before. But what does... Read More
They Spur Members To Grow EmotionallyTatiana Tannenbaum grappled with a... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
O.K. So now you have taken the step of having... Read More
Studies have shown that:1 out of 4 children were sent... Read More
One of the biggest milestones in our children's education is... Read More
Backpack? Check. Notebooks? Check. Ink-pens? Check. Clear Skin? Mommmm!If you... Read More
Individualism is a common thing in today's modern society. Many... Read More
An estimated five million scooters will be sold this year... Read More
'How can I start getting my children to help out... Read More
1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a... Read More
There are many useful jogger stroller accessories out on the... Read More
Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die... Read More
It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More
There are moments in a parent's or grandparent's life, when... Read More
When was the last time you and your kids rolled... Read More
Individualism is a common thing in today's modern society. Many... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
This article on parenting is by a practicing relationship counsellor/therapist,... Read More
Ever blown your top to your children, only to regret... Read More
Coupons can be a great tool in educating your child... Read More
"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it... Read More
It's funny how people seem to think that they have... Read More
The question I have for you drives right to the... Read More
Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect... Read More
In the first premise, some films and video tapes which... Read More
Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More
Night Visits From Your ChildIn the middle of the night... Read More
Most of us really don't like it when someone is... Read More
Predicament:My son is 4 1/2 years old. His younger brother... Read More
It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
Compulsory attendance laws are school authorities' first assault on parental... Read More
An apology is a sign of strength, not weakness. Sometimes... Read More
In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint... Read More
Back in college, I wrote for a five-day-a-week, award-winning campus... Read More
Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More
1. The Law of the BeastAs parents we need to... Read More
Spare the rod, spoil the child!This philosophy's been around a... Read More
"Where did he come up with that?" Kids often amaze... Read More
MYTH: All teens have to rebel, and the teen years... Read More
Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More
Well first off, please to don't institute the ½ hour... Read More
Picture this. Your child comes home with a special assignment... Read More
One of the most difficult struggles in life for a... Read More
The citizens of the early Roman Republic enjoyed an education... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
ADHD comes in differenty forms, or types. What... Read More
Parenting |