Children are blessings from the Creator. In Bible times, the measurement of God’s favor in your life is through how many children you have. But whether we admit it or not, it is not easy to raise them. They are like brand new white canvass and depending how you mold them, that will how they will become in the near future. Below are four essential things that your kids really need to have that will greatly impact their whole being and how they perceive life in general.
Self esteem is probably one of the most important things that your child will ever need in their lives. It will help them mature into adults who are confident of their abilities and can stand on their own without always relying on other people to make decisions on their behalf. When kids lack self esteem they will find it very hard to interact and socialize with others. Issues that most people would consider trivial or petty will have a huge impact on them and that will make it even hard for them to succeed in life since they lack the esteem needed to fulfill their potential.
Parents can help develop a sense of strong esteem in their children by recognizing that all children are unique from birth and by celebrating their different abilities. Know who your child is and what they are like. Always encourage your kids to express themselves and say what it is they really feel like. When they do something positive praise them and encourage them to continue acting in the same way. Teach them to respect themselves and to respect others. And finally make them understand that everybody is unique and was created in a special way. They should therefore never feel inferior since they are also special.
Providing your kids with playtime is very healthy for their development. It will provide an outlet for their imagination and creativity and boost their brain development. Kids can play alone with their toys but the best thing would be to allow them to play with other kids of the same age. When playing with other kids they learn how to form relationships. Kids who interact a lot with others while young have a healthier development than those whose interaction was limited to only a few individuals. But care should be taken to ensure that the people interacting with your kids will not have a negative influence on them.
When interacting with your kids try as much as possible to get down to the level of your child and involve yourself in the games that they are playing. Make them feel as though you are equals and that they can tell you anything that is on their mind. Speak to them in soft and slow voices and always encourage them to engage you in conversation. Speaking to them in harsh and reprimanding tones will only have negative consequences on their development. Provide your kids with toys and take them to recreational parks.
Your child needs a home where they feel secure and safe. Children who grow up in homes that are not safe tend to have trust issues. They think that everybody out there wants to harm them and this will make life really hard for them. When the home is not safe they will be unhappy and anxious, this can have a negative effect on their health and learning due to the stress that these kids have to cope with. You can provide a safe home for your kids by; meeting their basic needs, showing them that you love and care for them, childproofing your home, avoiding physical punishment and ensuring that your kids get all the medical attention that they require. This will help nurture kids who are healthy, happy and who can enjoy what the world has to offer them.
The importance of hugs, kisses, smiles and affection can never be overestimated. When you hug and cuddle your kids they feel comfortable and loved. It gives them a sense of belonging and they know and feel that you care about them. Kisses on the forehead are also a really good way of showing affection to your kids. As they grow older you may have to minimize these displays of affection but always remember they are really important when your kids are growing up.
Whenever you are with your kids smile and try and make them smile. Smiles are contagious, so if you smile frequently when with them they will also learn to smile and become jovial people. When you smile, for them it means that you are happy to be with them and pleased with them. All these are positive emotions and they will have a positive impact on their lives.
Kendrick Moss has written frequently on pregnancy and parenting issues, and is a mom of three (including one set of twins). She is an open-minded free spirit, always ready for new adventures. Faith, family and finances are the core of her value system.