As parents, we always want our children to be happy and successful in whatever path life throws at them. Sometimes we wonder how to measure success. It's easy to point out tangible items like transcripts, faculty feedback, and the like.
However, there is much more than the tangible things our children can work towards (with our help) in order to become full, healthy, and happy adults; These types of strengths are called behavioral and emotional strengths.
Every child is unique. While one excels in math, the other can excel in the arts. And that's certainly not all; In fact, that's just the surface. We also have children who struggle with what the business world calls.interpersonal skills.“
Business-oriented soft skills are unlikely to be used by our little ones for a while (unless you count the neighborhood lemonade stands). Still, there is a lesson to be learned from this: strengths are not just math results and muscle strength; they are also critical facts of emotional resilience and grace in social situations.
This may sound easy to some, but even we adults struggle with it! Of course, our little ones may need extra guidance. Let's take a look at six types of strengths to emphasize in our students and how we can help build an emotional and behavioral tool belt.
6 emotional and behavioral strengths
There are all sorts of emotional strengths that our children will accumulate and cultivate not just in their early years but throughout their lives.
These core strengths will help you become constructive, empathetic, and adaptable people. Most behaviors and emotions can and willis modeledfor us parents. We value being good examples and good listeners, and we turn specific situations into valuable learning opportunities.
let's take a looksix important emotional forcesfor little learners:
friendliness
Teaching kindness helps children understand how they should treat other people, including peers, friends, and adults.
Our children have good hearts, but the human spirit is not fully developedup to 25 years, sometimes our babies need a little help to fully grasp the situation at hand. Not only can we model kindness to other adults—partners, neighbors, co-workers, and others—but we can also bond with our children through a carefully crafted apology.
Although our children see us as superheroes, parents are not perfect; it is impossible. when we make mistakesSorry to our kidshelps build trust and models an important life skill. A key "apology" consists of the appropriateness of the action, an explanation, and a description of how future behavior will be adjusted.
When it comes to peer relationships, things can be a bit more complicated. Sometimes,Our children's friends will be bad. During this period we can help our little ones by analyzing the current situation, what happened and what should be done in the future. We can summarize the aspects of a healthy friendship and work on recognizing empathy.
curiosity
Curiosity is something that children often have naturally. They are constantly learning and asking themselves: this is how they grow up and get to know the world. Children seem to be constantly asking questions or figuring out how things work; We've all heard the endless stream of "why, why, why" when our kids start talking.
Encouraging our children to ask questions and discover new things helps develop their curiosity, which in turn breeds knowledge. Other ways to satisfy their curiosity include visiting museums, spending time in the library, and items such as asensory containerwhich introduces new textures and sensations.
Trust
Being confident will help your child grow, learn, and experience new things. As you face different challenges, you know you have the tools to overcome anything.
promotion of agrowth thinking’ in a results-based value system is key to building lasting trust. Children who believe "I work hard" are more likely to try new things after a failed attempt than those who are taught to appreciate "I'm smart."
Sentences like “Your brain is growing” or “You worked so hard!” are better than “You did your best” or “You can do better next time”. Prioritizing the “still” is also a big problem. Phrases like "You can't do that...yet" after your student falls off their bike help them envision a future where anything is possible.
belonging
Everyone has a need to be connected to others in one way or another. Your child will feel safe and confident as long as you provide stability. Encouraging them to make friends and establish a reliable schedule for "family time" can be helpful.
Finally read them.books about friendship. Textbooks are not the only source of learning! Kids love reading books with their parents and teachers, and it can be part of a quiet (and educational) evening routine.
Mut
By encouraging your child to take small, safe risks, you help them develop courage. Every time you succeed in something you are not sure about, develop more courage.
Your child will learn that there are great rewards for taking risks. Sometimes they will pay off and sometimes they will fail, but the point is, at least they try.
For encouragement, it's best to replace generic warnings like "be careful" with ones like "you need help" or "see that wet rock over there?" Of course, sometimes adults need to lash out in the name of safety, but safe risks can help build a sense of confidence and courage.
Esperanza
Teaching your child to be hopeful will make them a more optimistic person. Believing that good things will come (or that they can try again) helps develop resilience in the face of sadness and disappointment.
False promises can be tempting; “Nothing bad can happen” or “I will protect you from everything” often lead to disappointment and a false sense of security. Instead, "Tomorrow is a new day and we can try again" or "The only constant is change" might be better alternatives. A sense of reliability and consistency (like a schedule)can help promote a sense of hope.
Give your child tools to succeed
There are many ways to nurture emotional and behavioral strengths. Books are not only good sources of information, but also imaginary games and toys.
A wide range of learning tools will help keep children engaged and intrigued as they explore new concepts and life skills. Kids learning by doing: conference rooms are for adults.
Here are two ways you can teach your child how to behave and show emotion.
imaginary game
Imaginary play is one of the pillars of child development. Every time we see our kids pretending to be dragons, dogs, chefs, astronauts, etc., they're not just playing, they're growing up.
Acting out different scenarios with your child will help in many ways. For example, we can teach them to respect other people and show empathy for someone who is having a bad day.
Children also learn to express their feelings in healthy ways. Role playing and fantasy games can help teach empathy,emotional regulation, and more.
Books
Books aren't just for school (although we love a classroom full of books!). We have created a series of books designed to help children understand emotions and complex social situations in an age-appropriate way. title likeground lion nojLuna ends her conversationThey are interactive guides so children can follow and listen to the story as they learn valuable lessons.
Be a positive role model
Giving your child positive reinforcement encourages them to continue with appropriate behavior and emotions. Being a good role model will help your child grow into an adult you can be proud to call a friend.
A child is constantly developing and learning, so we want to point them in the right direction from the start. Everyone needs help from time to time and our little ones are no different.
Encouraging play can also be a positive way to develop appropriate behaviors. Dolls, teddy bears, or books can help them learn different types of emotions and deal with them in a socially appropriate way. These tools can build emotional strength like hope, curiosity, kindness, and more.
IsBig heart toy familyis here to help you lead your child positively. As parents, we know the importance of child development. We want to provide your child with toys and books that will help them grow into productive, caring adults.
Sources:
7 strengths support social and emotional learning | psychology today
What are soft skills? | ongoing balance
adolescent brain maturation | PMC
How to Properly Apologize to Your Children and Why It Matters country
Growth mentality in early learners | Extension of the University of Nebraska
Keys to Creating Hope in Children: Part One | psychology today