Regardless of the fact that the old saying states "A man's home is his castle," that castle can seem more like a prison if parents fail to imbue their home (and the family living in it) with the right kind of emotional and social environment--a supportive and comforting one. Despite whatever things need to be kept in mind regarding adults, it is incredibly important that parents pay attention to the needs children have and how they can be satisfied, generating precisely the positive sort of environment earlier mentioned.

Turning that mandate into a reality is, of course, a tricky matter that will vary from family to family and from parent to parent. What is for sure is that parents need to reinforce positive behavior in their children-and learn at the same time how to discourage negative behaviors that only serve to undermine a healthy and safe home...for all.

Lesson number one that parents must learn to this effect: nothing is better than leading by example. In the absence of such exemplary leadership, children will almost never respect their parents' cajolings and insinuations as to what parts of their behavior are good and, likewise, what parts are bad, etc. In other words, to be able to foster positive attitudes on the one hand, and to be able to get their children to desist with bad attitudes on the other hand, it's absolutely necessary for parents to practice what they preach. It's an inconvenient situation for certain parents, but it's an undeniable truth and a vital lesson for all parents.

With that idea firmly implanted inside a parent's head, it then comes time to develop and elaborate one's notion of exactly what behaviors are healthy and positive and which not; what should be reinforced and what discouraged. Indeed, it becomes necessary to ask the sobering question: what behaviors need to be supported and encouraged from a young age to let that child grow into a healthy, responsible adult life. Indeed, pondering these basic questions early on is a key part of the process of parenting.

A simple though fairly all-encompassing way to think of this issue is to split it up into the following three topics: what behaviors will be in the child's own benefit; what behaviors of the child will ultimately be to the benefit of the family as a whole, in terms of relationships between members; and what behaviors will ultimately benefit the broader society to which the family belongs.

From the first perspective mentioned (that of the child's own welfare), parents ought to promote good habits such as frequent activity, both mental and physical. Another old saying makes mention of healthy bodies and healthy minds, and one cannot come unaccompanied by the other.

From the perspective of the family's good, parents should give great importance to verifying that children stay engaged and on healthy terms with siblings and other members of the family (leading by example once again enters the scenario). Promoting group activities over individual activities is one method here but should not become a suppressive issue, and will depend on the children's characters.

Last though most surely not least, from the vantage point of the good of society itself, it's necessary to impulse a certain sense of responsibility and commitment to the community. Certain parents will use established religious institutions to reach this effect, whereas other people find other ways to get there. Either way, it's important that parents stress the values of open-mindedness and acceptance of diversity.