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How to Raise Well-Adjusted and Happy Children
The goal of all loving parents is to raise a child to become a grateful, empathetic, and well-adjusted adult. However, raising a child this way is no walk in the park. With so many other factors in place, such as school, society, the internet, and other factors, TIME magazine agrees that raising a healthy and grateful child can be daunting. However, with some dedication, it is absolutely doable.
The Country School House is here to help with three key resources and pieces of advice for new and established families alike. No matter your parenting style, these tips can be very helpful for child development.
Plant the Seeds of Gratitude from a Young Age
Children in elementary school are a bit too young to experience gratitude in the way that a fully developed person would. Still, parents can raise their children to understand gratitude by starting when they are very young. To do this, take the time to ask your K-4th Grade child to name three different things that they were happy about for that day. Don’t focus on specific timeframes, and definitely do not try to correct them if they say they are grateful for something that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. If it seems like your child doesn’t grasp gratitude, try asking them why that specific thing they named was a good thing or why they were happy about it.
Focus on Your Own Ability to be Patient
A lack of patience from a caregiver could have adverse effects on developing children. Because their brains are still developing, children from birth through their early teens require patience and understanding from their caregivers to give them the space they need to learn. This doesn’t mean that you can’t discipline or shouldn’t discipline your child — rather, focus on positive discipline and avoiding negative discipline while your child is learning new behaviors or types of knowledge.
You, yourself, may exhibit signs of impatience when it comes to reaching your own goals, which may include finishing or advancing your education. This can be addressed by tackling the issue head-on and looking into online coursework. For instance, if you’re tech savvy in the least and have an interest in information technology (IT), why not research the degrees available online through accredited universities? Going for an IT degree will give you the essential skills to advance your career and increase your earning potential, and it will certainly impact your kids. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual wage for computer and IT occupations was $91,250 in May 2020, more than twice as high as the median annual wage for all occupations of $41,950.
Have Real Conversations
Let’s be honest here — It’s not exactly possible to have a fulfilling and thrilling conversation with a toddler. However, it is very important to talk with your children, rather than at them, especially during early childhood development. Communication is all about interaction.
Open dialogue with your children and ask them things you would ask a friend, such as what might be on their mind, what is important to them right now, etc. Just because something isn’t important to you doesn’t mean it isn’t important to a child. Simply having real conversations will help them with cognitive and speech development, as well as emotional security.
Role modeling a life of gratitude and achievement goes a long way toward raising kids who are well-adjusted and content. But it goes beyond that, as we’ve read, and learning how to be patient with yourself and those around you leads to productive conversations that further deepen the relationship you have with your children. So take care of the “little things” and the little ones in your life by not sweating the small stuff and taking care of the things that matter most.
