3 Essential ideas for raising grateful kids in an entitled world…
Sunday May 5, 2024.
Raising Successful Kids: The Power of Letting Them Lead…
Research suggests that parents who let their kids take the lead in easy or moderately difficult tasks help them develop self-regulation skills and independence, contributing to their success later in life.
As Stanford University professor Jelena Obradović explains, "Too much direct engagement can come at a cost to kids' abilities to control their own attention, behavior, and emotions."
Expanding on this idea, it's important for parents to create an environment where children feel empowered to explore and learn on their own.
This doesn't mean abandoning them completely, but rather stepping back to allow them to figure things out with a sense of autonomy.
For example, when kidos are playing, cleaning, or solving a problem, parents can provide guidance when needed but should also give them space to make decisions and learn from their experiences.
Allowing children to take the lead in these activities not only helps them develop self-regulation skills but also builds their confidence and problem-solving abilities.
It teaches them that it's okay to make mistakes and that they have the capability to overcome challenges on their own.
This sense of independence and resilience can serve them well in school, relationships, and future careers.
Parents play a crucial role in fostering their children's independence and self-regulation by letting them take the lead in various tasks. By creating a supportive environment that encourages exploration and learning, parents can help set their children up for success in life.
Chores and Character: How Doing the Dishes Can Shape a Child's Future…
Encouraging children to do chores, as advocated by Julie Lythcott-Haims, former dean of freshmen at Stanford University, can lead to more empathetic and independent adults. Lythcott-Haims bases this on the Harvard Grant Study, which found that chores help children understand the value of contributing to the betterment of the whole.
Expanding on this idea, assigning age-appropriate chores to kidos teaches them responsibility and helps them develop a sense of purpose and contribution to the family unit.
When kids are involved in household tasks like doing the dishes, taking out the garbage, or doing their own laundry, they learn valuable life skills that will benefit them in adulthood.
Moreover, research has shown that children who do chores are more likely to collaborate well with others, be empathetic, and take on tasks independently. These qualities are highly valued in the workplace and can lead to greater success and satisfaction in life.
Assigning chores to children is a valuable way to teach them important life skills and values. Parents can help instill a sense of responsibility, independence, and empathy that will serve them well in their future endeavors by involving them in household tasks.
Social Skills Matter: The Key to Long-Term Success…
Teaching children social skills, such as cooperation and problem-solving, can significantly impact their future success. A long-term study from Pennsylvania State University and Duke University found that socially competent children are more likely to earn a college degree and have a full-time job by age 25.
Expanding on this idea, parents can help their children develop social skills by encouraging positive interactions with others and providing opportunities for them to practice these skills. This can include encouraging them to play with peers, teaching them how to communicate effectively, imagining another person’s perspective, and modeling positive social behaviors themselves.
Final thoughts
Additionally, parents can help their children develop empathy and emotional intelligence by teaching them to understand and manage their own emotions and recognize and respond to the emotions of others. These skills are essential for building strong relationships and navigating social situations effectively.
Teaching children social skills is crucial for their long-term success. Raising grateful kids in an entitled world is a perpetual undertaking.
Parenting well is a long game. it is the most impactful way in which our life force echoes through eternity for good or ill…
Provide your kids with opportunities to practice these skills and model positive behaviors. The science is crystal clear: Parents can help set their kids up for success in their personal and professional lives.
Be. Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Finch, J. E., Saavedra, A., & Obradovic, J. (2023). Academic Motivation and Self-Regulated Classroom Behaviors in Middle Childhood: Moderation by Parental Education. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES.
Armstrong-Carter, E., Bush, N. R., Boyce, W. T., & Obradovic, J. (2023). Cortisol response marks biological sensitivity to kindergartners' social hierarchies for emerging school engagement. Developmental Psychobiology, 65(2), e22373.
Sulik, M. J., Townley-Flores, C., Steyer, L., & Obradovic, J. (2023). Impacts of two public preschool programs on school readiness in San Francisco. EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY, 62, 194–205.
