Raising children, we all want them to grow to up to be happy, self-sufficient adults. We want them to feel fulfilled, but never too complacent. We hope they always keep learning, never settle for less than they deserve, and continue to look for ways to grow themselves, others, and the community.
With all these hopes and dreams we have, it can feel like a big jumble of desires you want to project onto them. In order to successfully see these dreams actualized into who they become as people, we have to teach them strategies to employ that will help them become all of these things.
A mindset of self-improvement is an important one to teach the young ones. If they grow up seeing their failures as just that, rather than as stepping stones for better things to come, they may get stuck in a rut when things don’t go their way. Just as well, they may begin to blame others and their situation for things that happen to them rather than take responsibility within themselves to change it.
If you’re trying to instill an attitude of growth and self-improvement for your children, here are some actionable steps you can take to help them help themselves as they grow into the wonderful person they will be:
- Explain How the Brain Works
Helping kids understand that our brains grow and develop every time we solve problems or learn something new can help them see the value in doing these exact things. For a kid that hates practicing piano because he needs to perform for his teacher, try helping him understand the cool things happening with the neurons in his brain every time he sits down at the keys and learns new songs.
Kids probably don’t think about the chemical processes taking place in their body — but you can help them understand how awesome these things are for them and for who they want to be.
- Education Through Books
Chances are that your child will not be receptive to reading a large, adult chapter book at bedtime. However, they would probably be receptive to the more kid-friendly books that reflect the same principles.
There are many popular self-help books on the bookstore shelves these days although they aren’t always targeted toward a child-reader audience. Finding a self-help book like The Four Agreements at https://www.selfdevelopmentsecrets.com/the-four-agreements-summary/ can help you to develop your own mindfulness ideas. With these ideas in mind, you can find kid-friendly books that express the same ideals.
Not only will your child enjoy getting to read new books with you, but they’ll also learn from your example. Next time when they see mom or dad reading around the house, you can tell them about all the great self-improvement tips you’re learning.
- Employ the Tactics You Want Them to Learn
There’s no better way to teach your kids something than by modeling it. Kids don’t buy the whole
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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