Pre-bed routine
Pre-bed tasks during my childhood followed a fixed routine. The first task was to do my homework and submit it to my elder brother for assessing. Once he verifies that the work is okay, I would get a chance to watch one evening cartoon program followed by a warm bath, mostly done by mum. According to her, Nighttime shower helps reduce fatigue after a long day in school or on the playground; a warm shower also helps clean dirt and germs off the body. As a child, I had sleeping difficulties; however, after taking a bath, sleeping became easier (Rathus, 2013). After the shower, I would get into my purple cotton pajamas. The pajamas were effective in retaining body temperatures. They were also loose enough to sleep comfortably. After which i would then take cereal with milk as a pre-bed snack. I would take dinner three hours earlier and bedtime snack later to boost my body energy and help me get through the night without hunger troubles.
Another essential routine was brushing my teeth. Although not my favorite task, i had no choice. Teeth cleaning helps maintain dental hygiene, prevents cavities, and alleviates the intensity of morning breath. After brushing my teeth, i would head to bed and read short animation stories with my younger sister. It was an effective way for us to bond and fall asleep, after which we would say a prayer. Both my parents are religious; they raised us with the notion that prayers keep away nightmares and bad dreams common among children (Rathus, 2013). From time to time, dad would come to check up on us as he says goodnight. He often got home late, and we did not get much time to interact with him.
Page 2: Television Viewing Time And Children
In modern society, television and other electronic devices have become cheap and readily available. The media has also diversified in terms of its programs, ethnicity, and operation time. Unlike in the 20th century, where only one tv channel existed, there are currently all sorts of local and international channels—these channels air programs for kids and adults. With the introduction of cartoon and animation programs, children have become television addicts with most of their free time watching and playing video games. Though there are educative programs for kids, without adult supervision, children end up watching adult programs and Tv shows with violent, sexual, and drug abuse content (Rathus, 2013). Because children are easily influenced by what they see, they may end up imitating bad behaviors. Too much screen time keeps children away from studies, playing, exercising, and eating. Screen time for kids should be minimal with parental guidance.
However, children should be allowed to watch at least one educative program each day. Additionally, kids can watch the news to keep them updated with their country’s current status and affairs—at least one hour of productive watching per day. Too much screen time is harmful to the eyes due to excess light and the flickering effect. Eyes strain developed by children at an early age may develop into more severe complications in the future. Therefore, minimal screen time with parental guidance is acceptable (Rathus, 2013). It is not fair to completely ban kids from watching as it is also a source of entertainment to them as it is for adults. Television programs can also be very educational for children.
Page 3: Parenting Style
Growing up, my parents used authoritative parenting. They were strict on behavior issues, academic performance, responsibilities, and hygiene. They did not spare the rod when we break the rules. They enforced laws and regulations in a justifiable manner where they would state the reasons behind those rules and the consequences for breaking them. On the other hand, they were very involved in our daily lives. They were never absent in a time of need and sorted our opinion on matters that affected us directly. They also used motivation tactics such as setting targets and rewarding anyone who beats their target. This tactic keeps the household very competitive, especially academically (Rathus, 2013).
As a result of their parenting style, decision making, and expressing one’s opinion as an adult has become very easy; however, these parenting styles instills the fear of parents. It becomes difficult to bend the rules even for a just course. The desire to rebel also arises from being consulted on every matter; one tends to believe their opinion matters most. There were rules for everything which made the entire family dependent on regulations, such that being rational in most situations could get you in trouble (Rathus, 2013). My parents could also get very snoopy on what I watch, who i interact with, and places i frequently visit. Parents also imposed a curfew on the time one should leave and return home. It was mandatory to explain where you are going and for what reason. Telling lies was unacceptable. This parenting style seemed harsh during childhood, but the positive impacts are visible during adulthood.