Whether you become a biological parent, stepparent, foster parent, parent of an adopted child, etc., one of the biggest goals is to support your child’s development from youth all the way to adulthood. Raising children is challenging but incredibly rewarding, and as a parent, you want what’s best for them (in all areas of life).

From creating a nurturing environment to helping them build confidence—and everything in-between—here are some ways to guide, nurture, support, and love your child as they move forward in their journey.

Be In Tune With Their Social/Emotional Concerns

Showing up and meeting your child’s need for food, clothing, and shelter can be easy. However, their development goes beyond that. Children have social and emotional needs that need to be met to ensure they grow into well-rounded adults.

Children want to be loved, protected and acknowledged. A good emotional environment helps them come out of their shell and enables them to relate well with others. Your child also desires to spend time with their loved ones and engage in fun activities that build their social skills. To be in tune with these concerns or needs, you need to affirm or praise them, allocate some time for family and friend activities, and provide a secure environment where they can share their thoughts.

Acknowledge Their Physical Needs

Acknowledging your child’s physical needs doesn’t end with the basic things. Children go through different stages of growth and it is critical to pay attention to the changes they are experiencing. Though food, shelter, and clothing are important, you need to ensure that they are physically healthy, getting enough rest, and thriving in a clean home.

Be sure to schedule routine appointments with healthcare professionals and contact specialists for specific developmental concerns. For instance, if you notice any spinal issues as your child grows, it’s a smart move to contact a pediatric chiropractic care specialist to assess, diagnose and treat these issues. You can also encourage your child to engage in physical activities, like sports, games, or movement-based exercises to keep them alert and strong. 

Listen To Them

Though children can sometimes repeat stories or talk just to talk, it’s important to patiently listen to them. Doing so can strengthen your bond and make them comfortable to speak to you about the little and big things. It also teaches them how to communicate better and adopt good social skills. Most importantly, it helps you identify the areas they might be struggling with so you can support them.

For example, actively listening to your child talk about their problems with math at school can help you devise a way to make learning more engaging at home or perhaps even hire a tutor. To be a better listener, consider giving them your undivided attention the next time they approach you for a conversation. Use positive body language and be empathetic towards them. Avoid dismissing their feelings about an issue and redirecting attention back to you by telling too many stories about yourself. 

There is, of course, no complete manual for parenting. However, good intentions (and a few of these simple tips) can help you support your child’s development and build him or her into a happy, resilient kid.

 

Featured Image Credit: Kampus