Give children opportunities to practice care and gratitude.
WHY?
Children need training to care for others and gratitude: it is important for them to respect the many people who contribute to their lives. Studies show that people who feel gratitude are more likely to be helpful, generous, compassionate and forgiving, and also happier and healthier.
HOW?
Daily repetition helps a friend with homework, homework, classroom work, or regularly reflecting on the value we have for others, and if challenges grow, develop a second type of care and gratitude and childcare skills. Although, as parents and guardians, we must always stand firm for fundamental values such as care and justice, in key respects we can make our home democratic by asking our children to express their views and listen to ours. Involving children in plans to improve family life teaches them to acquire perspectives and problem-solving abilities and gives them real responsibility: to be co-creators of a happy family.
TRY THIS:
- Actual Obligations. Expect children to help with housework and siblings, for example, and suggest only unusual favors. When these types of routine actions are only expected and unrewarded, they are more likely to take root in everyday actions.
- Make caring and justice a focus. Engage in conversations with children about the expressions of empathy and indifference they see in their daily lives or on television, and about acts of justice and injustice that they may see or hear in the news, such as someone who advocated an important cause or example. about sexuality or racism.
- Expressing gratitude Consider expressing gratitude as a daily routine before dinner, before bed, in the car, or on the subway. Encourage the children to pay tribute to others who contribute to their lives.
Expand your child's circle of concern.
WHY?
Most children sympathize with and care for a small circle of family and friends. Our challenge is to help children learn about empathy and take care of someone outside the circle, such as a new child in the classroom, someone who doesn't speak their language, a school tutor, or someone who lives in a remote country.
HOW?
It is important for children to learn to approach, listen carefully and notice those in their immediate circle, to move away, to get an overall picture and to think about the circle of people they meet every day. Children must also consider the impact of their decisions on the community. For example, breaking school rules will make it easier for others to break the rules. In our more global world, it is especially important for children to show anxiety about people living in other cultures and communities.
TRY THIS
- Children facing challenges. Encourage children to consider the perspectives and feelings of those who may be vulnerable, such as a child who has just arrived at school or a child with family problems. Give your kids some simple ideas on how to act, such as comforting a ridiculed classmate or approaching a new student.
- To be heard. Share with your child the importance of truly listening to others, especially those who may look unfamiliar and may be more difficult to understand immediately.
To support the ability of children to be ethical thinkers and to make positive changes in their communities.
WHY?
Children have a natural interest in ethical issues, and dealing with these ethical issues can help them find out, for example, what justice is, what they owe to others, and what to do if loyalties are contradictory. at them. Children are also often interested in taking on leadership roles to improve their communities. For example, children and young people have embarked on many of the most significant programs to build care and respect and to stop bullying and cruelty.
HOW?
You can help children become ethical thinkers and leaders by listening to them and helping them think about their ethical dilemmas, for example: "Should I invite a new neighbor to my birthday party when I don't like my best friend?" You can also offer your children the opportunity to fight injustice in their communities and to strengthen their communities in other ways.
TRY THIS
- Take the initiative. Encourage children to take action against problems that affect them, such as cyberbullying or a dangerous street corner.
- Thinking out loud with your child. Start a conversation about the ethical dilemmas that appear on TV shows, or give children the ethical dilemmas that need to be addressed when eating or in other situations.
Help children develop self-control and manage emotions effectively.
WHY?
The ability to care for others often overcomes anger, shame, jealousy, or other negative emotions.
HOW?
We can teach children that all emotions are okay, but some ways to deal with them are not helpful. Children need our help to learn how to handle emotions productively.
TRY THIS
- Identifying feelings. Give your children their hard feelings like frustration, sadness and anger and encourage them to tell you why they feel that way.
- 3 steps to self-control. An easy way to help children manage their emotions is to practice three simple steps together: stop, take a deep breath with the nose and exhale with the mouth and count to five. Try when your baby is calm.
Clear boundaries. Use sensible authority to set clear boundaries. Explain how your limits are based on a loving concern for the welfare of your child.