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What would you do if you could return to your childhood for a day?
I have so many days I wish I could take back or go back and change; if I had the power to go back in time, I would hug some of my family members tighter, mainly my grandma (who is not with us anymore). I’d tell her I love her more than words can say (since it was hard for me to do so when I was younger). “How I wish my son could have met you, grandma”.
I know, I know - we cannot change the past, and it is a life lesson we are often taught too late; I also sometimes wonder how much I missed out on because of my shyness or my worries, and I don’t want my son to miss out on anything. But at least now I can tell my boy that I love him (about a million times a day). So, I am making a conscious effort to build up his emotional confidence and enthusiasm for new challenges. But quite often I find out that he is actually teaching me way more about myself and life than I realise. This is the thing, guys: helping our children learn that they have the power to make a difference is a powerful lesson.
Every day, our children have a chance to help make the world a better place. With so many sad things happening lately, now more than ever, we need to think about how to raise children that will one day change the world. Thus, I would like to share some of my tips; I really believe that we can start building these change-makers and guardians of peace by:
Teaching social skills: effective social skills allow children to enjoy better peer relationships. However, the benefits of robust social skills reach far beyond social acceptance. A study conducted by Penn State and Duke University found that children who were better at sharing, listening, co-operating and following rules at age five were more likely to go to college. They also were more likely to be employed full time by age 25. Social skills need ongoing refinement as kids grow. They aren’t something a child either has or doesn’t have. These skills can be learned and strengthened with effort and practice.
Teaching your children to love and respect the environment: Children and nature have always been connected. We all are connected to the natural world. One of the best sights for youngsters to explore, absorb and enjoy is the natural world. Start teaching your kids about the importance of living a green lifestyle right away, and these habits will become part of your family’s routine. Another important consideration is that the planet is currently struggling with a major challenge regarding waste management; according to UNEP, 33% of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Understanding the concept of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle for kids is the first step toward successful waste management.
Teaching your children about cultural diversity: teaching your child to respect other cultures is a great way for them to understand essential concepts such as diversity and inclusivity. You can begin by teaching your child about their own culture, identity, and traditions, as well as exploring how your family differs from others. Making a calendar of festivals and traditions celebrated around the world is a nice way to teach your children about different cultures. To do so, just put some popular events on your calendar and use each one to teach your kids about the various celebrations going place throughout the world. For example, Diwali, Hanukkah and or Chinese New Year. Learning about other cultures is a great way to teach children to appreciate the diversity of our human world.
Asking them how they would change the world: we adults often underestimate how bright and perceptive our children are, just as the grownups in our lives previously underrated our own perceptiveness. So, talk to your kids about what is happening in the world (age-appropriately, of course). I’m not saying you should ask your 6-year-old son what he thinks about monkeypox virus and pollution in the Antarctic ocean or anything like that. Find something that’s reasonable to discuss your child. Talk about it, then ask, “What do you think?”
And finally, be a positive role model; this should be self-evident, but I'll state it anyway. We must be willing to change the world ourselves if we want to raise children who will change the world. Show them, not just tell them, how to be a decent person. We can't keep passing the buck to the next generation in the hope that they will make the improvements we want. Now is the time for us to step up our game. Perhaps, if we get it right, our children will not be required to alter the world. All they will have to do is keep the momentum continuing.
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Photo (credits):
<a href='https://www.freepik.com/photos/kids-group'>Kids group photo created by jcomp - www.freepik.com</a>
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