Page 24 - Blue Valley Issue 5 2021

Today’s ChiLd

RAISING

CHILDREN

FOR THE

UNKNOWN

FUTURE

BY NICOLEEN DAVIES,
Director of Business Development, Life Talk

We all want our children to
be happy, secure, fulfilled
and able to cope with
what life throws at them.
So, how do we set that
foundation?

omething that I have often pondered how important it is to spend time with our some of these are surprisingly simple things:
is – how do you raise children for the children and that they learn how to behave
Sunknown, for a world that doesn’t exist by observing the adults in their lives. It is • Raise your children with a ‘can do’ versus a
yet, for a life of constant and rapid change, of irrefutable that you will have a major impact ‘can’t do’ attitude. This will encourage them
complexity? on how your children conduct themselves in to become self-starters and action oriented.
adulthood.
The key skills they would probably need are • Let your children do chores. If they don’t
resilience and adaptability but, in addition, Being aware of this in your daily interactions do them, someone else has to. Chores
psychologists have identified several factors will be crucial to their development. If they see reinforce that work needs to be done and, in
that may ensure success. We have nothing you lose your temper easily, or shout at people so doing, each of us contributes. This helps
else to work with other than what current when things go wrong, or give up at the first develop collaboration skills and empathy
studies and theories predict, so this is what hurdle, or don’t appreciate things or people, or – because they know what it takes, how to
the experts suggest. have a poor work ethic – so will they. Fact. work independently, and it teaches them the
importance of responsibility. It may also teach
We are our CHilDren’s role suCCessFul ParentinG – WHat them negotiation skills!
moDels tHe ProFessionals saY
Parenting has a direct influence on Studies indicate that successful adults had the • Encourage curiosity. Free time used for self-
developing a child’s capabilities. We all know following common grounding as children, and exploration will create the space for your child

22 • Issue 5 2021• BLUE VALLEY NEWS