Some parents strive to be the best parents in the world, but there is a lot that goes into that title. Many people would agree that it is easier said than done. The most important thing you can do for your children is to love them unconditionally and provide a home for them that is supportive and safe in all ways. The best parents will put their kid’s needs at the top of their priority list and make sure that most of what they do and strive for is to give them a better life than they had. There are some basic things you will need to do as a parent, but there are also some things that you can do to be the best parents and raise great individuals who will become contributing members of society in the near future. Below is a list of things that will help you earn that title.
Provide a Safe Shelter
Those who want to be the best parents in the world don’t need a lot of money, but they do need to provide a safe place to stay. You may be renting a property right now, but you can work to provide your own home later. The home you’re in must have a stable roof on it, running water, and power going to the home. The basic essentials are very important in a home. If you’re staying in a very old home, you’ll want to have the wiring checked on the property to make sure it’s safe. Some homes that are over 30 or 40 years old may have outdated wiring that can’t sustain current appliances and technology and could be a fire hazard. You will want to have a technician come into the home if you own the property and have them rewire the home for your family’s safety.
When it is time to purchase a home, make sure the roof is in good condition. You may want to have roofing contractors come out and inspect the current condition of the roof. You should also have the property checked for asbestos and know if you need to do asbestos removal. What you don’t want to do is purchase a home that has extensive water damage. It’s also important to note that if you’re looking to hire home builders for a new property, this home meets all the requirements.
If you’re looking to build a home, make sure you provide enough space for each child to have their own space. They need a place within the home that is their own and where they can feel comfortable. Even if you have a lot of children and they need to share rooms, giving them a certain side of the room to themselves can make them feel empowered. You should also have enough bathrooms to accommodate your family so that they are comfortable and have a place to relieve themselves. Any home with children should have at least two bathrooms, and you can add more if you have the space and the funds to give each person their own bathroom,
Give Them the Best Education
As a parent, one of the ways you can prove yourself to be one of the best is to partake in providing only the best education. Find where the best schools are in your area, and make sure you move that attendance zone if they’re public schools. Some states have really great school districts, and it’s worth paying a little more cost of living to have access to these facilities. Look for schools that have high test scores and overall grades from the Department of Education and offer a variety of advanced coursework. Some of the advanced programs include Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge programs.
Some of the best schools in the area might not be public but could be private schools. These could be based on a religious foundation, rigorous curriculum, or both. They also have the option to offer these advanced programs at their school, which can make their students competitive, but they will have annual tuition fees that need to be paid.
Gain Easy Access to Healthcare
The best parents in the world will work hard to provide easy access to healthcare for their children. Getting a healthcare policy can be done through your employer, or you can purchase one privately from an insurance agent if you are a business owner and need to get your own policy. Make sure you opt for coverage that will cover your kids, offering access to pediatric medical and dental care in the policy.
Many larger areas are now offering pediatric urgent care facilities that help parents have a place where they can take their children when they’re sick, and they can’t get in to see their regular doctor. This is a convenience that is proving to be affordable, convenient, and insurance-friendly. Having access to a pediatric dentist is also a great option, as they are able to get the care they need and start taking care of any oral issues they have early on.
Without the proper healthcare, these children can go untreated, and things can be missed. It’s important to take them to the doctor when they’re sick and when they aren’t acting like themselves. Preventative healthcare is a good health care practice, even when these children are small. As these children start to get older, they will adopt good health practices, and they will use this throughout their lifetime. You will see as they become responsible adults that they are also taking care of their healthcare and will pass that on to their own children later on.
Remove Health and Safety Risks at Home
If you have an older home that you’re renting or buying, then you could have potential safety risks that need to be eliminated. Some areas are full of mosquitos, and they can make your child very uncomfortable if they are biting your children a lot. With the right pest control company, they can provide a mosquito control service that makes it easy for your kids to go outside and enjoy themselves. They also have access to other types of pest control in case you have an infestation of any other types of bugs or pests around your home.
Something that can be lingering in an older home is asbestos, and it can cause your family to be sick. You can bring in a renovation team to test for asbestos and mold and have the asbestos removal process done so that it doesn’t get caught in the airway. You may have to spend a couple of nights away from your home, but you’ll have a healthier family once it’s over. This isn’t in newer construction that is under 20 years old, but if you have one of those really old homes, then you need to have the home tested for this chemical.
Mold is another thing that can be in your house and make you very sick. Mold is generated from long-term water damage and will be in the walls, basements, and even the attic. Depending on how long the damage has been in the home, the mold can spread and can even turn into black mold. If you find mold and find spores on it, that means it’s capable of spreading and you need to have a restoration company come in. They can help clean the mold out and then waterproof the house with a French drain so that you don’t have water sitting in your home and causing more damage later.
Secure Your Finances
One of the best things you can do for your family as parents is to make sure there is financial stability in your home. Finances are usually something that everyone will fight about first, and that isn’t something that your family needs to see or worry about daily. With the help of certified financial planners, you can have substantial savings started so that you have some money in the event of an emergency and you need to pay for something unexpected. This happens a lot with families who need home repair, a medical emergency, or something with a vehicle that can be unexpected.
If you’ve been paying into social security, make sure that your children are listed as beneficiaries in the event of your death. This is something that they are entitled to if they are minors, and they need to have all the financial access they can should they be put in this situation. You can even leave them a financial gift from the grave in the form of life insurance, which requires a monthly payment in case you pass away. They are listed as the beneficiaries, and they can use that money to survive during the years that they would have needed you to support them.
Make Them Comfortable
Being able to be comfortable in a home is important and a quality of the best parents in the world. This means that your home should always be equipped with a quality HVAC system to ensure that the air is properly circulated. If you’ve noticed that your system may be on the fritz or just need some repair, there are HVAC companies in your area you can contact to come out and check the system. It’s important that you keep the system operational and maintain energy efficiency so that you get the most out of that system.
Some kids might need a little more in their spaces to make them comfortable. Feel free to purchase ceiling fans, room fans, and even electric heaters to help with their space. You want to keep the heaters away from anything flammable, but for those kids who need a little more at different times of the year, these items can make their room even more comfortable and a place for them to enjoy their space.
Show Support For Your Children
Being the best parents in the world means that you’re going to support your children in all their interests and encourage them to do their best. When they’re young, help them find what they want to do by allowing them to play different sports at your local recreation center. These activities will give you an idea of what they’re interested in while helping to make them coachable kids on the field. As they get older, they’ll start to fall into a pattern of what sport or activity they like, and you should support that, even if it isn’t your preference.
Some kids may decide that they are more into the arts and want to sing, dance, or even learn an instrument. Have them take lessons for these skills so that they can get better and improve their craft as they age. There will be classes and clubs at their school that will support their preference, so make sure you allow them to join these groups and expand on that. Show up to games, recitals, and competitions, cheering them on in the stand, even if it wasn’t their best performance. They’ll know they have your support, and they can be great regardless.
Do Your Best With What You Have
If you’re in a situation financially where you can provide all these different things for your children at home, then that is a great position to be in and could make you some of the best parents in the world. However, the way that you love your children and show up for them will speak volumes more than any amount of money you can throw at them or things you can buy them. In the end, your children want your attention, your affection, and a place to feel safe. Knowing they are comfortable and have a safe place at home with you is one of the best things you can do for your kids. All parents will fall short sometimes, but it’s how you pick yourself up and move forward to do better that will define you as the best parents in the world.