Parenting can never be a dull job. It’s like holding a live wire between your teeth. One moment your kid is asking you, "Where does rain come from?" and just when you draft a simplified version of the water-cycle, which will be easier for them to understand, they’ll shout, "Let's play hide-n-seek!" and whizz off! Such is the life of a young parent.
Kids are inquisitive, adorable and they have vast imaginations. That’s why it’s the best stage of life – but once gone, it’ll never come back! So, make the most of it and let your child relish their little, exciting explorations and curiosities, while you cherish their special moments of rare innocence!
Having said this, of course, this age is not without its challenges too. When kids get difficult to manage, their virtuous innocence just evaporates into nothing and they might appear like little devils under the skin of a kid. (I’m sure many of you agree with me!);D
Little kids may still be learning to control their emotions and they may not want to follow the rules at times. So, what’s to be done? Let them be? Or show them who’s the boss? Grant freedom to explore or exercise restrictions to avert negative impact from environment? This is the million-dollar question that throws thousands and thousands of parents into an enigmatic stress every single day!
That is the time when you have to step on thin ice and your parenting skills are put to test of patience and wisdom. See, at the exploratory age, children can get irritable, violent, aggressive, impolite or rude. Yet, under no circumstances should a parent punish or hit the child. After all, what is the goal when you're dealing with children? To show who's in charge or to instill fear? Or to help the child develop into a decent, self-confident human being? Punishment will only get them to do what you want but it does not shape character or teach empathy.
You may be quite frustrated with your child saying ‘No’ all the time, but the same independent spirit that makes him/her refuse something confidently will motivate him/her to be a good decision-maker in life, taking tough calls. If your child argues a lot and gives logic for his/her actions/choices, your child is learning to be analytical and evaluative. If you fret a lot when your child skips lunch or dinner for a match, school function or commitment, he/she probably is getting to know how to prioritize. Rebellious behavior may actually be the beginning of leadership qualities.
Good parenting means striking the golden balance between setting limits and encouraging independence. Making the children follow a set of rules helps them cultivate a sense of self-control; while motivating them to be autonomous develops a sense of self-direction. In order to develop into balanced individuals, they are going to need both.
Sometimes parents think that bringing up a happy child means jumping in to make everything comfortable and convenient, whenever life throws a googly. But this is the biggest gaffe many adoring, well-meaning parents make. It is not realistic that parents try to give a fairytale life to kids all the time. Not everything needs fixing by you. Children need to learn to experience and overcome some displeasure or discontentment. Let them struggle, figure out things on their own and allow them to learn how to cope.
An array of difficult and frustrating experiences helps in cultivating inner strength that will lead to happiness and satisfaction in their later life. It may be an eleven-month-old trying to stand up and walk or eleven-year-old toiling with geometry; they'll get used to managing complexity simply by facing it effectively again and again. In this way, they will comprehend that no matter what happens, they can find a solution. This doesn't mean your child shouldn't ask for help if they need it, but your role is to point your child towards a solution, not provide it for them.