Today’s society often puts great emphasis on image, both on an adult and child level. When it comes to parenting or teaching, there is pressure to see performance in your kiddos instantly. And the easiest solution to this problem is to add more control.
Let me give you an example: your child is having some conflict with a friend at the park. Do you step in and tell them what to say; do you pull them out of the situation; do you talk to the other parent; or do you do nothing? Our instinct has evolved to always step in and provide guidance before something goes wrong.
Here’s the thing—there is a fine line between helping and hindering your kiddo’s growth when it comes to stepping in. Child empowerment [AL1] is an umbrella term, which encompasses resilience, self-autonomy, and self-esteem. Basically, it’s about teaching your child independence. And right now, child empowerment is in the forefront of education. Here are a few tips to help guide your child to empowerment.
- Continue to encourage your kiddo – Nothing is better than offering them praise, the more specific the better. Even when they fail, it’s important you encourage them to continue on. Whatever encouragement or praise you give a child, it is internally what they see in themselves, which is often referred to as mirroring.
- Learning is all about trial and error – By letting them fail, you allow them to build character and expand their knowledge. This is sometimes the most difficult and frustrating thing to do with your children. A great rule of thumb is to let them try, at least, three times before you step in. By letting your child fail and learn helps them develop self-efficacy, self-esteem, and resiliency.
- Allow your children to speak for themselves and make their own decisions – This gives kiddos the ability to explore their own world and feel in control of their own fate. And try to avoid judgment or influence from yourself and others. When kiddos can develop their own way of being themselves it greatly impacts them in the future. This embodies child empowerment because their actions become their world.
Child empowerment is important for all children, but is specifically vital for the kiddos who struggle the most. This could include children with behavioral, learning, or attention concerns. Understood.org is a great resource for anyone looking for more information to help with empowering children.
Overall, just being present in your child’s life makes all the difference to empower your child and grow their independence for the future.