Raising children is perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences of life – granted it can become cumbersome at times but the joys of listening to your baby’s first words and many other such moments are priceless. But sooner or later parents tend to start wondering: “What is going on in my child’s head?” Their behaviors change dramatically over the years and parents find themselves unaware of how to be supportive as their children progress through their age.
Information sponges
So what is really going on in their head? Well a lot actually, children – when they are born are like information sponges. This is understandable considering that they are new to this world and will try to absorb as much information from their surroundings as they can – in fact babies develop as much in their first three years as they would in the rest of their lives. At this stage, they will learn through trial and error – this may seem disturbing but the best route is to be supportive to your child, after all what are we trying to accomplish other than to raise them in the best possible way? At the same time, one should be completely aware of their child’s environment because they will experiment with every single thing – baby proofing the house before the arrival of the young ones is imperative.
Raising children, be mindful
When babies utter their first word, a new stage of learning is initiated – at first they will tend to familiarize themselves with the names of people and objects which are most relevant (which is why the first word is usually “mama” – way to go moms!). Later on they will try to familiarize themselves with grammar (not the boring kind we study in schools though) by listening to how adults speak – hence it is pertinent to be mindful about what you say in front of your child and how you say (this is technically why children are a reflection of the way they have been raised by their parents).
Tantrums
But what about all the tantrums? Well yes, some children have a problem controlling their emotions and who can blame them – they’re new to this world. Luckily, they can be distracted from problems just as easily – just give them some toy or another object of which they are fond of, and viola problem solved. During their preteen years, children begin learning abstract concepts such as feelings and develop empathy – at this point, it is necessary to stay positive with them so as to keep them safe from negative vibes.
But a child’s teenage years are the most challenging for parents, this is not only because of the rising hormone levels but also because of their tendency to be overly emotional and less critical (which they will be when they grow up). Once again, parents must be supportive of raising children – instead of scolding them over mistakes, one must try to discuss it logically with them. One can also help them develop critical skills using mental exercises, and have regular talks with them about problems. But above all, never try to invalidate your child’s feelings, instead, be supportive at every step and remember, we love our children.
