How to Nurture Your Child: What Every Parent Should Know

A recent study found that a nurturing environment influences child development.

What’s the effect? Children from loving and supportive homes had bigger brains compared to those who were not nurtured as much – and you can’t argue with brain scans.

But that led us to these questions:

1. What exactly is a nurturing environment?
2. How do you nurture children?

1. Google defines nurture as:

“Care for and encourage the growth or development of.” (noun)

Therefore, all needed from moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, caretakers and teachers is to do the verb form of the definition.

Sound easy enough? No? Alright, here are ideas on:

2. How to nurture kids

The name of the game is creating a supportive environment with the goal of coaching and helping children achieve their potential in different developmental areas.

Emotional Development

• Label emotions such as: anger, fear, frustration, joy, disgust, etc.

• Let them feel emotions instead of suppressing or ignoring them.

• Show them how to control emotions to use them in a constructive manner.

• Teach them how to effectively communicate: by focusing on problems instead of the person, and by really listening to what others have to say.

• Teach discipline by giving them responsibilities around the house and being consistent.

Intellectual Development

• Study with your kids and teach them handy techniques on certain subjects. For example, teach them math tricks to help improve on the skill.

• Take time to read books with them to develop their love for reading.

• Do activities or games that stimulate the mind: puzzles, science projects, arts and crafts, etc.

• Help them solve problems by encouraging them to think of out-of-the box solutions.

• Help them learn and experience new things like art, music, languages, places, etc.

Spiritual Development

• Set aside time each week to discuss your beliefs.

• Pray with your children often.

• Encourage them to join church activities.

• Teach them values that they will carry to adulthood.

• Encourage them to read scripture at an early age.

Physical Developement

• Encourage an active lifestyle by getting off the couch. Let them play sports, spend time outdoors, learn to dance, swim, surf, etc.

• Show them how to care for their bodies by eating healthy and exercising.

• Help them develop a positive body image by focusing on health, exercise, values, religion, academics and not on their physical appearance.

Are you overwhelmed?

Don’t be.

A great trick is to schedule things every week. Pick at least 2 activities from the different developmental areas. In a month, you will have had covered 8 different activities.

And yes, it does take a bit of time to teach kids things. Hey, nobody said parenting was easy. It has, and always will, require time, energy, patience and of course, money.

Got other things to add to the list? We’d love to hear them. Oh, go ahead and share this with your friends and family.

Photo:
Creative Commons from deflam