As a parent, you know your little one calls the shots in your household. If they aren’t happy, then no one else can be happy either. We all know that a child needs a stable environment in order to establish their happiness and well-being. They need routine, positive guidance, and most importantly emotional fulfillment. Most people work hard to provide the first two, but don’t truly provide the third in a way that ensures the health of a child. This begs the question: what can I do as a parent to keep my youngster happy and emotionally fulfilled? Dr. Terri Swim, renowned professor of childhood education, says this can be achieved by honoring your child’s individuality.
In order to do this, you must first start by seeing the world through your child’s eyes. Slow down and experience things as if it is your first time doing so. For example, you see that candy wrapper that your infant holds onto like their life depends on it? Well, take a moment to understand why it has captivated them. Maybe it’s the color, the vibrancy of the red, yellow, or green. It could be the sound it makes; maybe the crinkling of the wrapper sounds melodic to your child. Or it could be the texture, soft and smooth like silk but also sturdy like paper. Whatever has captivated your baby is worth exploring yourself so that you can also play with the candy wrapper. By doing this you are accepting your child’s individuality and also meeting them at their level of understanding.
Positive guidance is the next step in honoring your child’s individuality. Your toddler wants to explore the world. Everything is new to them, and worth being experienced with rapt attention. As their parents, you must encourage their discoveries. Cheer them on when they voyage into uncharted territories. Their curiosity is something that must be developed with your emboldening actions. By showing them that it is safe to explore, you allow them to learn more about the world and themselves. This creates a happy kid and, as we all know, if the child is happy, then everyone is happy.
Your child is unique and they will have an experience of life that is completely different from yours. It is important that when raising them, you acknowledge this. By doing so you will ensure that your child will encounter the world with unbridled enthusiasm every step of the way.
Check out Dr. Terri Swim’s Parenting Skills for Infants and Toddlers course on www.impactelearn.com to learn more about this topic!