12 Things You Can Do Today To Help Your Child Thrive
Simple steps that can be practised at home …
I notice parents today are deeply stressed and even competitive about their child’s growth and performance. In the bid to help their child “excel” multi-laterally, parents are going out of their way to enrol them in extracurricular classes or provide learning materials at home or spend huge amounts of money on programs that promise academic and cognitive growth.
However, in this frantic process, parents and even educators are forgetting the most fundamental things: the best ways to help your child thrive are usually the simplest and often present within ourselves or at home.
In the current times where fast-paced technology that promotes instant gratification is becoming the norm, children and childhood need to be honoured.
Children are innately smart, curious, capable, precious and full of joy, and as adults, we can nurture these qualities with an approach that can bring out the best in our children. Here are some ways to support your child’s growth:
1. Keep a routine:
Children feel safe and in control when there is a predictable routine to their day. They should know for example that post-lunch is when they
listen to a story or after their nap time, they go outdoors to the park
etc.
A routine that your child is familiar with will eliminate needless behaviour issues.
Similarly, a bedtime routine can help your child get a night of good sleep. These days because of an overload of screen time or due to lack of a consistent bedtime routine, many children are sleep deprived.
Stick to your commitments and try to exemplify discipline as a parent first if you want your child to imbibe it.
2. Be emotionally connected and present when you are with them:
With an overload of stimulation around us, it has become difficult to be present in the moment. Sadly, the reality today is that parents are often multitasking. We are either in a rush to complete tasks or distracted socially by constant technology infiltration. This can prevent us from being wholly present for our children.
It is important we commit our complete attention during the time we are with our children, even if we take out short bursts of time. It could be just 10 minutes but for those 10 minutes, we must ensure we are emotionally and physically present, listening and responding to them.
Put your phones away during this precious time.
3. Use rich language:
Often adults talk to children in a watered-down way or in a baby voice but there is no need to do so. We need to talk to them like any human being and hence, with respect.
I notice many parents asking children questions that the parents already know the answers to. It is almost a way of constantly testing the kids, “what colour is this?” Instead, we can use, “I notice you are using the red paint today.”
Our use of language should be developmentally appropriate so we should use
words and communication that our children can understand.
Further, be open to answering their questions in a voice that indicates to them that we consider them able and independent thinkers.
4. Read to them every day:
Reading can do wonders for children and adults alike. Not only is it an avenue into a wonderful world of imagination but also a way to emotionally bond with your child.
It may be the same book over and over again if that is what your child wants but reading can help enhance your child’s creative thinking, language while introducing them to new words and concepts and building a very positive association with books.
5. Follow your child’s lead. Do not cast your adult thinking over them:
When spending time with your children, it is important to treat them as capable beings. To ensure your child’s cognitive and emotional development, you must let them be in charge while providing a physically and emotionally safe space for them to play and learn.
It is extremely important to keep adult ideas and expectations at bay and instead adopt a follower attitude with kids. This can propel them to think on their feet, make decisions, err but learn from it.
6. Respect and honour your child:
This may sound like the most obvious one yet not many parents get it right. Recognize that each child is unique and does not need to be compared to others.
Provide your child with a safe space at home with their interests and preferences. Do ask them what their opinion or choice is in a particular matter. This helps the child feel valued and also confident to express their feelings freely.
Children have a perfect ability like any other individual to showcase their emotions and as parents, we must ensure a welcoming and receptive atmosphere.
7. Give your children open-ended materials to play:
Unlike commercial toys, open-ended materials encourage the child to do the thinking. Commercial toys can limit a child’s creative horizon and often have a single dimension. It promotes only one way of doing things. A car can only be a car.
Whereas giving your child open-ended materials to explore like cardboard boxes, packing materials, different textured papers, old lids, shells and materials from nature that have no expectations (other than safety) for what the end product should look like can encourage them to think and be creative.
8. Acknowledge their emotions:
While linked to the last point, acknowledging children’s emotions is key. As adults, we may trivialize what a child is feeling or trying to express but we must remember that as from the child’s developmental perspective, their emotions and issues are completely valid and deserving of our understanding.
Whether it is happiness, anger, anxiety, stress, as adults, we must make the effort to understand and help our children.
9. Give them lots of time to play:
Play that is self-directed is indispensable for children. This article explains in-depth why that is. Children need playtime where they get to decide how they want to use playing materials, engage in role-play or do something entirely new.
This type of play can immensely contribute to a child’s cognitive and social and overall development.
10. Take them outdoors in nature:
Being outdoors is a great stimulator for the mind and body. Being in nature helps children connect to nature. Today, when many hours are spent with electronics, children need the sunshine and the physical and emotional benefits of being outdoors.
Take your child outdoors, engage with them, and let them interact with its different elements while they run, climb, jump, swing etc.
As a parent and an educator, it’s very important to maintain a balance of indoors and outdoors activities in your child’s daily schedule.
11. Give your child a healthy and nutritious diet:
Today, more than ever before, our children are exposed to a processed, high-sugar diet. If you can inculcate the right foods for your child, you will be helping their physical, mental and emotional health.
It’s best is to eat local and seasonal foods.
Remember, if you eat healthy the chances are your child too will be eating healthy food.
12. Remember that childhood is the most cherished time of your child’s life:
Last but extremely important, any time you find yourself unable to understand your child or their needs or path of development, remember that childhood is an explorative and carefree time, not an opportunity for children to be prepared for adulthood.
This stage in a child’s life is a distinct time for development, nurturing and making memories. The freer a child feels to expand their horizons, the better their interpersonal, creative, cognitive and social skills will be.
As parents and educators, we need to provide an environment for them to grow, have fun and feel joy!
Conclusion:
While the above tips are subjective, as an educator with four decades of experience, I certainly understand what children need. And if we can take care of the basic tenets of their growth, such as the ones listed above, we will not only see our children thrive but also, be able to strengthen our bonds with them!
If you’d like tips on any other topic around parenting, please leave your suggestions in the comments below.
