Non-Traditional Parenting Strategies- Use Big Words

I had kiddos early compared to many of my peers, so it is not uncommon for me to be the purveyor of hard earned wisdom to buddies that have kids that are a couple years younger. I give a lot of traditional advice that you can find in any parenting book or through common culturally accepted practice. However, I thought it would be worth sharing some of my more less main stream go to parenting strategies.

So the next couple posts will list several parenting tips and strategies I have used successfully to improve my parenting.

Remember, before you read this, you like me and think I am a good father.

Use Big Words Around Your Kids

Kids are smart. They are like sponges, picking up everything around them especially language. I often use the parenting technique of modeling the behavior I want them to take on, which includes having a broad vocabulary.

To do this I often use the word and in the next sentence define it. 

Me: "Hey Violet, you need to be more magnanimous to your brother, take it easy on him especially when you win the argument."

Me: "Hey Jack, I love that you are gregarious, you really are a social little dude."

Me: "Hey Rosie (our dog) that flatulence was horrendous! Really really smelly."

When I do this it always reminds me of an episode of Modern Family when a minor character says something in Spanish and then immediately says the same thing in English, driving the Cameron crazy. 

This aspects makes it all the more entertaining for me.

The take home is that I have found this to be effective technique in helping my kiddos develop as well as forcing me to really know the words I am using.