11_BT_Nov 2022

Baby & Toddler
Education
Get to know your
3. child’s passions
(and encourage them)
It’s not unusual these days to ‘discover’
a child’s talent while he or she is
attending an enrichment class of some
sort. The good thing about it though,
this hidden talent will only be seen and
felt if you yourself take on a proactive
part in your child’s life and ‘fan the
flames’ in this passion of his/hers. In
other words, don’t just leave it to the
teachers. Let your child know that you
acknowledge and support their talents
and encourage them to pursue it as far
as they can.
When it comes to a child’s true passion,
beware of this fact: Countless parents
seem to just push their children into
things they think would be the best
for them, even if they don’t like it.
That has always been a recipe for
future disasters, (read discontentment,
resentment, rebelion, etc).
The best thing, really, that any parent
can do for their child is to let them see
where their own inner passions take
them. So, if you’ve dreamt of raising
a dancer, and your child seems more
interested in botany, for instance,
remember this little advice.
Allow failures for
4. their own good
Contrary to what a parents naturally
may feel, protecting and sheltering
a child from failure could be one of
the worst things to do, for it’s only
through failure that a child can truly
grow and learn. In life, remember,
there are always problems that need
to be solved (there is no such thing
as a 100% problem-free life). Failures
lead to problem-solving skills that your
child needs to develop - and each
child has their unique way of seeing
things. So, it may hurt to see our child
fail at something, it’s one of the best
things you can do for them. You can,
however, take on a gratifying role in
helping them figure out solutions,
actions, remedies, etc.
Failures during the childhood growing
years also help a child to realize things
don’t come easy. If we really want
something, we are going to have to
change the way we see and do things,
and better ourselves.
Failure also humbles them into
understanding that they can’t and
won’t win all the time and that it’s
alright to not be at the top of things
each and every time.
Teach them
5. about delayed
gratification
There are some things in life where
parents should not delay taking
action and providing relief. such as if
a child is thirsty, hungry, needs help
in a genuinely urgent matter, etc.
However, providing your child instant
gratification for every little matter could
severely damage their future, for when
they’re adults, they will have to cope
with unrealistic expectations in life.
Getting accustomed to instant
gratification during childhood can
desensitize them to instant delivery and
rewards, and they begin to expect it
without much if not any work. When
you teach your child patience and
persistence before getting rewarded,
it sets them up for more sensible
expectations in the future, and they
will also be more open to sacrifices and
cooperation with other people.
Give them chores
6. to do
Getting your kids to do household
chores isn’t child labour! Teaching your
child responsibility for the environment
around them is an important lesson to
learn early on. It lets them know that
things to don’t just magically get done,
and people (mom, dad, relatives, the
maid, etc), have to do them, and they
have to take part in this too.
They should be educated from young
to play an active role in making their
surroundings a better place to live in
for themselves and those around them.
So, let them fold the laundry, sweep
the floor, set the dinner table, wash
some dishes, bathe the family pet, etc.
These chores will serve them well (and
yes, the fact that it’ll lighten your own
load a little is an added bonus!).
7. Take them travelling
Traveling is one of the most
transformative experience for someone
to undergo, especially if that someone
is a growing, inquisitive child. It opens
them up to new cultures and ways of
living that varies from their own.
Exposing your child to travel early will
expand their consciousness beyond
the limitation of any little towns small
mindset that one can fall in to.
The Student and Youth Travel
Association in the USA once released a
survey that analyzed the effects travel
has on students. Unsurprisingly, among
many beneficial effects, they found
that travel helped students increase
their curiosity and willingness to learn,
explore and grow.
They also concluded that it made
students more tolerant and respectful
of different people and cultures. So, the
next time you plan to use the kid/kids
as an excuse not to travel, think twice,
for their sake!
Article adapted from: powerfulmind.co
22 BabyTalk | November 2022