As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be kind, moral, loving, and contributing members of society. But how do we raise such a child in a time of constant change and temptation? While our ancestors may not have had modern textbooks, they left us invaluable lessons in parenting – values that remain as relevant and necessary as ever.
1. Respecting your child – the foundation of character-building
The old saying goes, “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” However, if taken literally, it might miss the true spirit of this adage. In traditional families, discipline always went hand in hand with love and respect.
Respecting your child doesn’t mean letting them do whatever they please. It means treating them as a unique individual with emotions, thoughts, and a right to be heard. A child raised with respect will learn self-respect and empathy for others.
Nowadays, while children may appear to have more equality and fewer strict rules, many parents still hold the belief that “children don’t know any better.” This mindset can lead to dismissing their opinions and making them feel insignificant. Remember, if you want your child to be kind, you must first be a kind adult – one who listens, is patient, and treats them fairly.
2. Teaching morality – a compass for life
Families have been the first teachers of morality since ancient times. Fairy tales, grandparents’ advice, and real-life examples of good deeds – these are a child’s first “moral education.”
The ancient wisdom goes, “Learn etiquette before learning literature,” emphasizing that character-building comes before knowledge acquisition. This includes simple things like saying “thank you” and “sorry,” respecting elders, keeping promises, and avoiding greed and lies. These moral lessons are timeless and serve as a guide for children to navigate society with integrity.
Morality cannot just be preached; it must be demonstrated through daily actions. Children learn more from what they see than what they hear. When you keep your promises, help others, and behave politely, you’re teaching your child how to live with integrity.
3. Teaching life skills – essential for independence
While teaching morality is essential, life skills are equally important for a child’s holistic development and independence. Our ancestors, despite living in challenging times, always taught their children self-reliance, hard work, resilience, and adaptability.
Today, with more comfortable lives, many children are deprived of the opportunity to develop self-reliance. Out of love, some parents do everything for their children, from eating and studying to socializing. Unfortunately, this can create dependence, a lack of problem-solving skills, and difficulty coping with challenges.
Allow your child to learn self-care, communication, teamwork, time management, emotional regulation, and resilience. These skills will empower them to be strong, confident, and resilient as they navigate life.
A young tree needs good soil, sunlight, and nurturing hands to thrive. Similarly, children need respect, morality, and life skills to grow into kind and contributing adults. Respecting your child helps them feel valued; teaching morality guides them to distinguish right from wrong and develop empathy; and life skills enable them to embrace challenges and persevere through failures.
Our ancestors taught with their hearts and patience. While the world has changed, these values remain timeless. The most important thing is to raise kind children, and that is the greatest gift we can give them.
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