Bringing up children can be a daunting task. It’s an arduous journey full of highs and lows, but it is also the most rewarding thing in the world. When raising a child, you must carefully take into consideration every aspect related to your little one. Every child has unique abilities and qualities that set them apart from everyone else.
As a parent, you want to do the most you can to help them develop these qualities so they can recognise their strengths and how to use them. This way, they can deal with any challenges life throws at them.
Here are a few tips to help your children develop extra-ordinary qualities
1. Allow them to play
Play can be an effective learning tool for children. As they play, they get a chance to develop their creativity, dexterity, physical, emotional, and cognitive strength. Through play, children can interact, explore, create, and engage with the world at a very young age.
By encouraging your children to engage in structured and unstructured play, you can increase their physical activity levels. By enrolling them in Montessori schools with GMP curriculum, they can continue engaging this play-based form of learning.
2. Show them unconditional love
You could be thinking, well, I already love my child unconditionally, how else can I show this to them? As parents, you should love and accept your child for who they are; no matter what they do or can’t do, your child needs to know that you will love them through it all.
But this doesn’t mean love everything they do; you have to set limits and expectations for them. However, they have to feel loved through each emotion they have and any good and bad behaviour.
3. See every challenge as something to conquer
Life is full of challenges, and they can be tough on everyone. However, knowing how to handle them adequately is a crucial skill every child should have. Raise your children to view challenging situations as part of life and something you can overcome.
Children don’t view failure the same way you do. To them, it is another opportunity to learn and try again. Whenever they are faced with challenges, ask them, “How can we handle this? What do you need to do?” If they are facing a challenge alone, ask them these questions and let them find the answers on their own.
4. Foster their interests
Let your children develop and try out as many things as they can. This way, they will figure out what their interests are. Let them go dancing, try swimming, karate, painting, drawing, playing the piano and so on.
By exposing your kids to different places, things, and people, you help them develop their interests and explore their strengths and passions. This can be a reliable way to boost their self-esteem, make new friends and learn a bit about themselves.
5. Use positive language
Positive thoughts and language can help create and shape your child’s behaviour. When you talk to your child, use ‘can’ instead of ‘could or should’; ‘get to’ instead of ‘have to’.
By changing your language, you can shift your child’s thinking so they can believe in themselves as they go. Never shame your child for not knowing something or failing.
6. Help them learn to accept change
Change is an inevitable part of life. Every day, every challenge or milestone they overcome represents a change. Help your child learn to accept and embrace change. Teach them that change can be exciting, and they should be ready for anything that happens.
Instead of reminiscing on the old days or longing for the next stage, teach them to enjoy the stage they are in. This way, they will learn to make the most of every day and embrace change.
7. Don’t micromanage
Developing autonomy is a crucial life skill every child should have. It involves teaching your children to have goals, do their best and motivate themselves to succeed. However, as a parent, the line between being supportive and micromanaging can become blurry.
In a loving effort to help your child live up to their full potential, you may inadvertently overstep and take control. Avoid constantly correcting your child. This can have a negative effect as it can send the message that you don’t believe in their decisions or initiatives. Instead, allow them to master their skills independently but offer them guidance and support whenever needed.
For instance, if they put a puzzle together the wrong way, refrain from telling them they did it wrong. Instead, turn it into a learning opportunity where there’s more than one right answer. That’s how you foster creative and innovative thinking.
8. Teach them emotional resilience
As a parent, you won’t want to watch your child suffering or going through a hard time. However, it is not your job to make all their problems go away or make them happy. You have to teach them to understand their emotions, both good and bad.
Don’t negate their feelings of hurt, sadness, disappointment or fear. Instead, help them recognise these feelings and work through them. That’s how you can help them build emotional resilience so they can learn how to handle the hardships of life.
However, by applying these tips, you can help your children develop the skills they need to face and overcome these challenges. When it comes to raising extraordinary children, it’s not the singular grandeur actions you do or what attitudes you hold but rather the daily actions you take to reinforce the right behaviour.
