There are an infinite number of methodologies available about how to raise our kids. And one of them is the positive psychology approach which focuses on the positive emotions, traits, values of a person in order to help a person grow. It comes from a place of strength rather than deficit.
Positive psychology helps parents understand that they must not focus on their child’s weakness all the time. But they must bring their attention and nurturing skills onto a child’s strengths and positive characters in order to ensure development of both mind and body. And while doing this, please remember that the positives of your child might differ from those of the child next door; so please focus on those of your child rather than making your kid aspire to the positives of this neighbourhood child. Happy Ho organizes best Meditation and Tarot classes in Noida and Delhi NCR area in India.
Another thing to keep in mind is that it is not only the next-door kid that parents compare their children to, it is also to their own selves. Just because the child is a biological formation that originates from you, this does not mean that they are clones or even similar to you, for that matter. Look around you and you’ll find bazillion real life examples for the same. And so, let your child grow a pair of wings that belong to him/her.
Once you know what the positive traits of your child are, please remember to reinforce these through positive reinforcement. Children are quick to grasp behaviours and retain qualities which receive genuine appreciation. Teamwork can be praised when the siblings clean their rooms together. Honesty can be appreciated when the kid truthfully tells you about a mistake he/she did at school or when the kid tells you how he/she actually feels about a certain situation. When such praise is sent the child’s way, he/she develops an inner sense of confidence.
Also, it is very important to lend a listening ear to your child. Ask them about their day, and do this in detail. Take a genuine interest in the day-to-day happenings of their life. Tap onto their thoughts and emotions, try to understand the core messages through their verbals and nonverbals. Sometimes, an active ear is that a child needs in order to have her/his experience validated and from there to start working on resolving whatever is bothersome. This sort of a discussion works better if you ask the child questions that require him/her to reflect on their decision making skills, cognitions and that require him/her to tap into their character strengths.
And as parents, you must always tap into your own strengths on a daily basis and especially during hard times. The child will learn from you more than you think. And also please remember to always stay optimistic, especially during tough times!
And hopefully, both you and your child will come out being more resilient!
A very strong correlation exists between a parent’s parenting style and the overall well-being of the child. And positive psychology based models help raise an emotionally mature and confident child.
