The Good Life – July-August 2023

children from experiencing negative emotions, they
miss out on valuable opportunities for emotional
development and growth. Allowing children to
experience a range of emotions and supporting
them in managing those emotions helps build
emotional resilience, empathy, and understanding.
This emotional maturity will benefit them in their
personal relationships, academic pursuits, and
future professional endeavors.
Promote Lifelong Learning and A Sense of
Curiosity
Children are naturally curious and possess an innate
desire to explore the world around them. I’m not
exactly sure how many times my son has asked me,
“why” about something, but we must be nearing the
tens of thousands. And he’s only eleven. I have really
had to work on not responding with, “because,” and
then skipping out on the explanation of why.
When we coddle our children, we risk stifling their
thirst for knowledge and hindering their intellectual
growth. Allowing them the freedom to explore,
make mistakes, and learn from their experiences
fosters a lifelong love of learning. It instills in them
the confidence to take on new challenges, seek
knowledge independently, and develop their unique
talents and interests.
By fostering
independence,
self-reliance,
decision-making
skills, resilience,
emotional maturity,
and a love for
learning, we
equip our
children with the
tools they need to
thrive in an ever-changing
world. As parents, let’s not
be helicopters, hovering
over our children’s every
thought or move. Instead,
let’s be standing by, with
sunscreen, a water bottle, a
bag full of snacks, and all of
the support and guidance
that our children need to
successfully navigate their
world. •
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