As parents, we want the best for our children. We want them to grow up to be healthy, happy, aware and empathetic individuals who can add value to their community and make a positive difference in the world. To achieve this we need to enable the overall well-being of our children by taking care of their body, mind and soul.
While children are naturally programmed to grow and thrive, they require care and constant monitoring. And as adults, we need to enable their growth by providing them with a safe space, both emotionally and physically, to grow. Here are some simple parenting tips to help you raise conscious, healthy and happy kids:
Listen and pay attention: The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of our total attention—listening not just with our ears, but with our whole being, our heart. As parents and guardians, we need to be more aware, more receptive to what our children are saying. We need to learn to respond rather than react to children’s negative emotions and anger and enable their mental well-being by showering unconditional love and support on them.
Embrace the Feelings: Teach them to accept their feelings instead of feeling guilty or even hating them. They should feel okay about crying or feeling jealous or angry as long as they know that these are just feelings and will pass. We need to make them realize that expressing insecurity is a sign of strength, even if it feels uncomfortable. Let’s encourage the emotional intelligence of our children and support them through their ups and downs. This will lead to better management of emotions and less reactivity.
Communicate and be authentic: If your child is 13 or 14, it’s time to start talking about relationships, life goals, and realities. Open and honest communication is important. And when talking to them, uplift and support their self-esteem and mental health by choosing words wisely and encouraging their confidence and acceptance. Teach them to express their thoughts, feelings, and boundaries while listening with empathy.
Respect boundaries: As parents, it’s important to set healthy boundaries for your children. We have to be consistent in enforcing rules and limits because they provide a safety net while encouraging them to make their own decisions.
Introduce Self-Care: Introduce them from an early age to self-care practices like healthy eating, daily exercise, good sleep, meditation and mindfulness. This will help them deal with the stresses of school life and help build up their well-being reserves. The best way to get them started on self-care is to practice it yourself. They should not view it as an indulgence but as a necessity for their overall well-being.
And never miss an opportunity to tell them how much you love and care for them. Build their confidence one phrase at a time! Share these empowering words with your child every day to help your child shine bright like a bright star.