Terri Ramsey Beavers Every parent wants to ensure their child thrives from day one. You want your little one to grow up to be a capable, functional person who can achieve great things in society and personally.
But what does that look like in practice? It’s often hard for parents to chart a course that makes sense.
Fortunately, this post is here to help. We explore some of the strategies you can use to ensure they grow up to be the people they want to be.
Form A Strong Attachment Early On
The first step is to form a strong attachment early on. You want them to bond with you and feel secure. This basis will form the background for the rest of their development, helping them feel comfortable taking risks, exploring the world, and treating your love of them as a given – something that’s not going to go anywhere.
You can demonstrate you care for them deeply by responding promptly to their needs. If they seem upset, deal with their needs immediately, be patient, and let them cry it out if they have it.
Provide Them With A Stimulating Environment
The next step when they get a little older is to provide them with the right kind of stimulating environment. Surrounding them with screens probably isn’t the best idea, but getting them to do things that build their skills more generally in old-fashioned ways can be beneficial.
For instance, you could take them to climbing school or get them to use their bodies in gymnastics classes. You could also train their brains with guitar lessons or buy them a chemistry set.
Don’t forget to permit them some “downtime,” too. Kids need space to consolidate their learning. Avoid constant activity.
Show Your Curiosity
You can also unlock their potential by asking them open-ended questions. Getting them to talk to you about how they feel about things and going beyond canned “yes” and “no” answers can help enormously.
Try to ask them questions that will get them to think. For instance, you could ask them things like “Would a cake ever disappear if you kept cutting it in two?” or “Is north the same direction as up?”
Once you get them thinking about the world around them, you can start smashing some of their preconceptions and notions and get them thinking more scientifically. You could also ask them philosophical questions and help them see the world through a different lens.
Celebrate Effort
Putting effort into learning and thriving is challenging, particularly for children who respond so strongly to their emotions. Therefore, you’ll want to celebrate their effort and achievements as they occur.
You can also be proactive in your praise. If you notice a child doing something you want them to do, point it out and tell them that it’s good. Get them to keep doing it to build their confidence.
Get Them To Try New Things
Lastly, get them to try new things. Keep introducing them to activities that challenge their problem-solving skills. Don’t worry if they make mistakes.