Andy Griffith Show Family Lessons

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

---

Psychological Effects of Child Abuse

Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More

Discipline

Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More

Sharing Books with Children

One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More

Summer Survival

Summer Survival The... Read More

A New School Year

Depending on where you live school will be starting this... Read More

Stop Lying NOW

Do you have a consistent problem with your child lying... Read More

How to Handle Child Tantrums?

Child tantrums are a way for children to express their... Read More

The Effects of Televised Sexual Content on Adolescents

According to a September 2004 study by the RAND Corporation,... Read More

Gifted Children - Getting the Balance Right

One of the challenges for parents with a gifted child... Read More

Beginning the Special Education Process

Like anything else in life, there's a method to the... Read More

Marriages May End But Families Are Forever

It was at that time when our marriage was falling... Read More

Maximizing Your ADHD Childs Performance in School.

As a parent there are lots of things that you... Read More

Confident Children - Avoid Overparenting

For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More

The Ten Most Common Poisons Among Kids

For parents, keeping our kids safe is a constant top... Read More

From Birth to Teen, Spirituality in Children

Until about the age of six, children do not generally... Read More

Playing Safe

Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More

Weathering Colic for New Parents

A common problem many times facing parents is Colic. Estimates... Read More

The Mystery of Picky Eaters

If you were to ask 100 parents why they think... Read More

Because Every Child Is A Born Genuis

Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More

What is Prenatal Intelligence?

Prenatal intelligence, also known as fetal intelligence, has become a... Read More

Parenting Univeristy: Potty Training 101

When your child shows signs of potty training readiness, it's... Read More

Intermission: Wood Chips

I wanted to share with you one of the most... Read More

New Mom...New Baby...New Debt?

Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along... Read More

Lifebooks: Every Adopted Child Needs One

Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece... Read More

What To Do When You Think Your Child Might Have AD/HD

AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common... Read More

Home And School Education - Your Kids Can Benefit From Both!

Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made my way... Read More

Guide to Choosing Plush Toys for Children

Many people consider plush toys great for children. They say... Read More

Mom vs. Dad: Navigating Parenting Differences With All Good Intentions

Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More

Kids, Chores & More

Are you a frustrated parent who sometimes finds it is... Read More

Children?s Birthday Party Planning: When and When Not to Have a Big Party

Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only... Read More

Safe From Strangers

There are few thoughts as terrifying as the abduction of... Read More

How to Make a Time Capsule

Looking for an unusual and memorable gift? Why not preserve... Read More

Childrens Friendships Made Easy

Most research into children's friendships shows that those children who... Read More