They are the most important thing in the world. Some say money.  Some say career.  If children receive the support and encouragement they need while growing up they will become positive influences in their communities.  So many people take for granted their ability to have healthy children and they neglect the responsibility that comes with having them.  We wonder why the world is in the shape it's in.  The next time you hear a parent calling their child a name, condemning their actions and beliefs or neglecting their children remember this: We reap what we sow.     I found these "Simple Rules for Parenting" in the Reader's Digest.  Actually this was a list for Dad's in honor of Father's Day written by Benjamin J. Stein and published in The Washingtonian. This list had such a great impact on me I thought everyone should know how the "little things" we do each day affect our children.  Sometime seeing things in writing makes it easier to apply to our lives. 1.  Time is of the essence. The key to a happy child is having a parent who is there with him consistently, day in and day out.  It is far better to spend evening after evening just sitting near him while he reads a book or plays on the computer than to spend a couple of hours every Saturday buying him toys or taking in a movie.   2.  Share your strengths and fears. You are your child's ally, not his adversary.  The child who knows that his father was once afraid of the dark, and is still afraid of needles, gets to know that his own weaknesses are part of mankind, not a unique shame.   3.  Look for the good and praise it. Encouragement is the primary engine of human development.  Consistent recognition of a child's strengths is more important by far than vitamins.  You deny it to them at their peril and yours.   4.  Do not allow your children to be rude. Children should be expected to share, answer when others greet them and congratulate those who succeed.  By teaching them about politeness, you make sure they realize that others' feelings are worth taking into account.  If they can get that into their little towhead, they will have learned the most basic foundation of human interaction.   5.  Let your child teach you. A common misstatement about child development is that "kids don't come with instruction manuals."  Not true--they do.  They tell you when they're hungry.  They tell you when they're lonely or scared.  They are like little guided tours of themselves.  Children will tell you what they want, although not always with words.  Fatigue, irritability and sadness are ways of telling Mom and Dad what they need. Look and listen.   6.  Value your child for what he is. When children know they are loved for themselves, not for any particular accomplishment, he has a certain peace that allows him to learn better, sleep better, play better, be more helpful around the  house.  Whether the child becomes a rocket scientist or a plumber, he needs to know they are No.1 with you.   7.  Being a parent is your top priority. If you decide your kids come before you sales quota or bridge game, you will find that all the other pieces of Parenthood fall into place.  When you put your kids first, you're getting the most value for every hour on earth.  What's more, you have made the best decision of your life.     This list is not quoted exactly as in Reader's Digest.  Words or phrases have been changed to apply to both parents and no specific child has been named.   These things don't cost a dime yet are such a great investment in your child's future.  Toys, movies, ball games and amusement parks all cost money.  Time with your child is priceless. Make the future a brighter place for everyone.  Have you hugged your child today?    A Whole New World Family Matters  Children Now: Home Page  Just For Kids - Children's Bookstore  The Children's Museum of Indianapolis  National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse Home Page           As of 7-13-98
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