A while ago I came across an article entitled “If we behave in these 10 ways towards children the future of humanity will be in safe hands.”
It got me to thinking about all of the personal experiences I have had not only with my own children, but with other children I have had the opportunity to work with in the past.
I certainly believe that the environment in which a child is in and how they are brought up always plays the factor in the decisions they make and their actions they portray.
Anyone can simply watch someone as they grow up and imitate them without having any foundation of why they are doing it. Having a foundation to build from for children is key, although we know that is not how it always happens for most.
How their foundation is set plays an important role in their 4 dimensions as they grow; Mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.
The 10 ways that were shared in this article, I can agree with in different aspects of a child’s life as I have seen and applied it in my children (who are 3 and 5), to teens getting ready for college. It makes a difference.
As adults, we are the foundational setter of a child’s life. They not only need love, guidance, constructive insight, but they also need to be heard and appreciated as well. I think when children (infant to 18 yrs.), can see these 10 listed, from adults, they are more acceptable to receiving from adults and allowing that foundation to set in, in their lives.
- Apologize to children when you are wrong
- Do not assume you’re smarter than a child simply because you are older.
- Say thank you to children when they do something for you or others.
- Admit when you’ve made a mistake and admit it openly to them.
- LISTEN to children. Never neglect them.
- Be sure to set boundaries for acceptable behavior.
- Lead by example.
- Teach and practice
- EXPLAIN to them that actions have consequences good or bad.
- Enjoy watching and nurturing them. Take great pleasure in the privilege and responsibility of being able to guide and shape them into being responsible well adjusted adults.
Article list given by- Educate Inspire Change (published April 12, 2019)
This list struck me because I could literally apply it to situations in which I worked with kids in the YMCA. All they wanted was to be heard, and not always looked down on. They may have been known as the kid who always started trouble and unruly, but there was always a reason for it and had to stem from somewhere/someone.
Taking the time to just LISTEN, give constructive guidance, and patience made a WORLD of difference in their actions. It gave them hope that they could be heard, and in turn their actions started to change for the good.
If we can be vulnerable to children to an extent where we show them the respect that we want from them, they will in turn be vulnerable and give that respect back as well. It has to be consistent and authentic!
As a small yet great example: There is no way an adult can expect to take and not say thank you from a child, yet expect a child to say thank you when they take from you or anyone else.
We must build a health foundation and train our children, whether they are ours or not, they way they should go, and that’s a healthy, respected prosperous life.