Imagine a crying child because he is not able to watch his favorite cartoon on a phone. Now imagine him rolling on the floor in a store because you didn’t get him what he wanted. A kid shows aggressive behavior like banging his head against the wall because he could not get what he wanted. This is a very common sight for parents nowadays.
We are all born with certain temperaments and children having those tantrums is very common. It’s OK when they are kids but a parent’s approach towards the child has a significant impact on the kind of adult they become. It is important to understand that stubbornness may be a part of the personality of some kids. But it might as well be a way for them to express their will in a way they feel is right.
And it makes it even more important to know the difference between a stubborn child and a child who is assertive about his wants. So it becomes the duty of the parents to understand and teach their children about better ways to handle their stress. It helps them to understand that they are in a safe space and can express themselves without the need to be stubborn about it.
Stubborn characteristics can come out in a child at any stage of life, whether it be infancy, adolescence, or teenage. With time it becomes necessary for parents to teach their kids the importance of balanced behavior and self-expression.
Here are some tips to teach your kid about compassion and humility. which can help them become a better person and develop healthy habits which can help them throughout their life.
- Try to Listen: Listening to the child’s thoughts and demands is the very first step because communication is a two-way street and kids tend to learn what they see around them. Listening to the kids is a great way to avoid arguments and turn them into meaningful conversations. If the child feels that the parents are ready to listen to what they have to say it makes it easier for them to listen to the parents as well. The fussy eater might just have a tummy ache and not be able to clearly express what he is feeling.
- Planned visits to orphanages and schools for specially-abled: Planned visits to orphanages and special-ed schools are a great way to help the child develop a sense of gratitude and privilege towards their family. It can also act as a great stepping stone in developing a seasoned maturity in the child’s mind that can help him grow into a responsible person.
- Getting a pet: If possible, having a pet at home is a great way to nurture satisfaction and the role of caretaker in the child. Even if you can’t get a pet, alternative methods like having a daily schedule for feeding ants, street dogs, and birds outside the home can be used to bring the same effect.
Preaching or telling the kids what to do may seem like the right thing but what children need is a healing and compassionate touch because nurturing is as much a spiritual ordeal as it is physical. Tell the child stories of people around him, which he can look up to instead of fairy tale heroes because while fairy tales may inspire them to develop morals, inspirational figures from real life may change his heart to do the same things that they are doing or perhaps even greater things in life.
