Five valuable qualities and skills in a child that are worth nurturing

1. Stable self-esteem

Stable and not necessarily high. Why? Studies show that people with too high self-esteem are often exposed to fear of failure and lower self-esteem. In addition, its high level is often conditioned by external factors such as comparisons to the environment or opinions of others, while the guarantor of stable self-esteem is having internal beliefs about your value. Therefore, having lower and stable self-esteem is better than having higher and unstable self-esteem. What can you do? Do not race with other parents to strengthen the child’s self-esteem as much as possible by trying to present him in the best way so that everyone likes him. Accurate and qualitative messages are enough to help them build a sense of being a valuable person. The source of this sense will be internal beliefs about yourself, not the pursuit of gratification from the environment. Stable self-esteem = quality, not the amount of reinforcements:)

2. Courage and assertiveness

Assertiveness is often confused with arrogance, but in practice helps protect yourself and maintain good relationships with others.

Assertive attitude is one in which we express our opinion and emotions while taking into account our feelings and opinions, as well as the feelings and opinions of other people.

We also need it to set our own boundaries. To say no in situations where we often wrongly learn obedience and forced courtesy. Assertiveness can provide a child with a sense of security, power and independence. It is very important in today’s world. This is particularly relevant in cases involving extortion, manipulation, or giving in to the opinions and actions of others.

3. Empathy

Unfortunately, bullying among children ( also on the Internet ) is still too frequent. Experiencing both sides of bullying, as a victim and an abuser, can significantly impact a child’s mental health. We often have the impression that empathy will develop spontaneously. In fact, in the process of perspective-taking ( reading the emotions of others ) the child gradually learns from the behaviour of parents and the environment. For this reason, it is worth paying attention to describing the possible feelings of people from the environment and the potential effects of our actions on these people: “How would mum feel if we didn’t come to the dinner she prepared for us?”. It’s crucial to be mindful of others’ emotions and recognise our actions’ impact on them. Empathy is worth combining here with building consciousness and well-being in a group, community, and classroom – online and in the real world.

4. Flexibility

The term resilience is used in psychology. It means the ability or process of human adaptation to changing environmental conditions. We are witnessing constant changes in the world, but even everyday reality tests our flexibility. Every stage of education, career and family life is associated with changes. Encouraging children to be open-minded and adaptable to “new” perspectives is highly beneficial. It can be helpful in this: not succumbing to routine, trying new things, acquiring more abilities, meeting new people, and building the ability to find yourself in new situations and circumstances. Flexibility can be created by spending time together! E.g.? It can be determined that we try new activities with the child once a month. It can be physical, mental and social activity – there are many options!

5. Passion for physical activity

The development of digitisation, social media, and online teaching brings us to a sitting mode, often without interaction in the real world. It’s widely known that engaging in physical activity is crucial for anti-stress measures. It not only improves a child’s physical condition but also instils a sense of confidence and belonging within the group. Engaging in sports is a beneficial habit that can prevent the development of destructive ways to regulate emotions during teenage and adult life. Such harmful practices may include resorting to drugs, alcohol, or self-destructive behaviour.