Aliesha Embleton
Your child needs resiliency, authenticity, and an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed in life. Unfortunately, our system is not set up to give your child these gifts. We are starting to see the product of this through the increased rates of anxiety, depression, and mental health challenges in children.
As parents, you want something different and better for your child. The good news is that the actions you take now will help to support transforming the landscape of your child’s lifestyle and well-being. A consistent theme of the research into childhood mental health is the need for a holistic approach to support the development of children.
There are three fundamental pillars that we need to bring back to parenting approaches to significantly improve a child’s life. The three pillars are resilience, authenticity, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Here are some parenting tips and tricks centred around nurturing these fundamental traits:
1. Resilience:
Encourage resilience by allowing your children to face challenges and setbacks. Instead of immediately solving their problems, offer guidance and support as they navigate difficulties. Encourage them to learn from failures and mistakes, emphasising the importance of perseverance and determination. Engaging in outdoor activities like hiking or camping can also provide opportunities for children to overcome obstacles and build resilience in a natural setting.
2. Authenticity:
Foster authenticity by creating an environment where your children feel safe to express their true selves. Listen to their thoughts and feelings without judgment and encourage them to pursue their interests and passions. Engage in open and honest communication, modelling authenticity in your own interactions. Artistic activities such as painting or journaling can help children explore their creativity and express themselves authentically.
3. Entrepreneurial Spirit:
Cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit by encouraging creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills. Allow your children to explore their interests and pursue new ideas, even if they seem unconventional. Provide opportunities for them to make decisions independently and develop a growth mindset. Encourage your children to tackle DIY science experiments or start a small gardening project to foster a growth mindset and cultivate problem-solving abilities.
By incorporating these parenting approaches and activities into your daily routine, you can help nurture resilience, authenticity, and an entrepreneurial spirit in your children, empowering them to thrive in an ever-changing world. Remember, the journey of parenting is filled with learning and growth for both children and parents alike.
