Unanswered [1] | Urgent [0]
  

Home / Writing Feedback   % width Posts: 3


Essay: The Essential Characteristics of a Good Parent


tonton842004 1 / -  
Aug 2, 2010   #1
Can you please proofread my essay for me. It's for my finals in English. This is my first time using this site so I really don't know how this works, but I would greatly appreciate if someone could help me.. I'm suppose to make sure there isn't any fragments, run-ons, and commas are in the right places.

The Essential Characteristics of a Good Parent
Bill Cosby, the author of "Fatherhood", once stated, "In spite of the six thousand manuals
on child raising in the bookstores, child raising is still a dark continent and no one really knows
anything. You just need a lot of love and luck, and, of course courage". I believe this statement
should be read by every parent. Most first time parents have no idea how to raise a child. No
matter how many books people read about parenthood they still don't completely understand the
essential concept of all the needs that a child has to have. Honestly, I didn't know anything
when I first became an aunt, but after 12 nieces and nephews I have learned a few techniques on
how to be a good parent.
One technique I think everyone should do is to spend quality time with their child. The
first example on how I spend time with my kids is to take them to the park. Every kid loves
going to the park. I personally love surprising my nieces and nephews by taking them to the park
every weekend I get them. We go to the lake and feed the ducks. Then we go to the play area and
swing, slide down slides, and whatever else they want to do. Before we leave we have a picnic
by the lake. Another way to spend time with a child is to teach them how to cook. Children love
to do things in the kitchen. I let them do things in the kitchen according to their age. I started
letting them help me when they are about two. I start off by letting them pour ingredients into the
bowl and letting them stir the mixture. I also let them place cookies on the cookie sheet. When
they are between six and 10 I teach them how to use the microwave, but they never use it
unsupervised. When they are around 14 they learn how to use the stove and oven. My final
example is playing games with them. Game time is one of the best ways to spend time with a
child. Mine and my nephews favorite games are Connect four and Candyland. We can play them
for hours. I think by spending with my nieces and nephews helps them connect, share, learn and
also get the family time that is essential for a healthy life.
Honesty is a huge factor in being a good parent. Remember the quote "Honesty is the
best policy" this includes being honest with yours kids also. Logically if everyone starts off by
lying to them, when they get older they will think that it is okay to lie to their parents or others.
I have always been honest with my kids, but depending on their age everyone have to careful on
how things are said. One example is I was living with my best friend and her kids, and ended up
really close to the guy I was dating at that time. Eventually, we ended up breaking up. After a
few days they realized he wasn't coming around as often as he was, so they asked me where he
was. I told my nephews, that were 4 and 6 at the time, that he had to go away for a little while,
but he would be by to see them very soon and that he loved and missed them very much. Now
my niece on the other hand I was completely honest with her. I sat down with her and told her
that he and I had a few problems and we thought it would be best to have time apart. So, we
could work on the problems. After that whole situation my niece realized that I would always be
completely honest with her and now she comes to me about anything. From my experience in
life, being honest about everything in every situation has always had an excellent outcome for
me, and it is great quality that I would like my children to have throughout their life.
Another characteristic that every parent must know is how to discipline a child. The
first step I use to discipline my kids is to talk to them about the situation. I let my niece or
nephew know what they are doing wrong because they might not understand that they are even
doing anything wrong. Also, I tell them that their behavior or what they are doing is not
acceptable, and if they do it again they will go to time out. If they proceed with the behavior that
I have already spoken to them about I place them in time out. For time out I usually place them
on the couch, timeout bench, or if you are outside place them on the porch. I usually have a
kitchen timer and I will set it for 2 minutes. After the 2 minutes is over with I talk to them again
and let them start playing again. If step one or two doesn't work I have to go to step three. Step
three I ground them from a toy or whatever they like to do for a couple of hours. An example of
step three is not letting them watch their favorite television show. Instead I let them watch
Discovery Channel or anything that is educational. The reason I do this is because they are
learning something and plus they are getting disciplined all at the same time. Most people I know
uses spanking as a type of discipline, but I strongly disagree with spanking. I feel like violence
doesn't solve anything that is why I did not included spanking in my discipline steps. Plus I can't
even imagine harming my kids any kind of way. Also I believe a child learns everything that
somebody teaches them, and by me being violent towards them will teach them that violence is
okay and it isn't. So I think by me following my three steps of discipline has helped me out a
great deal in discipline my children.
I feel the quote from "Fatherhood" is the most truthful statement that I have ever seen.
When I first became an Aunt I had no idea how to take care of kid let alone all the attention and
discipline I must know how to do. But over the years I have learned a lot thanks to my babies,
and I am so grateful to have them in my life. Thanks to them when I do have kids I will already
be prepared for him/ her. I know all the experience that I have gotten from them over the years I
know can be the best parent ever.
ershad193 14 / 333 5  
Aug 3, 2010   #2
and, of course courage

Looks like a misplaced comma. IMO it should be: and of course, courage.

No matter how many books people read about parenthood they still don't completely understand the essential concept of all the needs that a child has to have.

This is just a repetition of the quote.

I started letting them help me when they are about two.

Spell out 10 and 14. Always spell out numbers below a hundred.

Remember the quote "Honesty is the best policy" this includes being honest with yours kids also.

This sentence is not necessary. The first sentence of the para already did that.

One example is when I was living with my best friend

Now my niece on the other hand I was completely honest with her.

Would you like it this way -- However, I was completely honest with my niece.

After the 2 minutes isare over

Most people I know uses spanking as a

Don't capitalize "aunt" unless it comes before a name.
EF_Kevin 8 / 13,321 129  
Aug 4, 2010   #3
Here is an idea: One technique I think everyone should do use is to spend quality time with their child. --- this was not an error; I just think it will sound nicer if you say 'use.'

The first example on of how I spend time with my kids is to take them to the park. Every kid loves going to the park. I personally love surprising my nieces and nephews by taking them to the park every weekend I get them. --- is it still a surprise if you do it every weekend?

Remember the quote, "Honesty is the best policy." This includes being honest with yours kids also.

This is really nice. I see that ershad made some good corrections, too, like the capitalization of "aunt." However, in essence this piece of writing is very impressive. It conveys a sense of certainty you have about this subject you know so well.


Home / Writing Feedback / Essay: The Essential Characteristics of a Good Parent
Writing
Editing Help?
Fill in one of the forms below to get professional help with your assignments:

Graduate Writing / Editing:
GraduateWriter form ◳

Best Essay Service:
CustomPapers form ◳

Excellence in Editing:
Rose Editing ◳

AI-Paper Rewriting:
Robot Rewrite ◳