Nurture Optimism in children

As parents, we all want our children to have a positive outlook on life, but sometimes it can be challenging to know how to achieve this. However, there are many simple and effective parental guidance to keep your child stay positive in all life situations.

After a long wait of almost nine months when the doctor informs the parents that they have been blessed with a daughter or a son; in the first instance, parents do not believe that they have become a mother or a father.
But, in the next moment, they feel highly excited.
Those are the best moments in parents’ lives.
Having a child brings a lot of excitement and merriment; however, it also brings many responsibilities.

But, to learn parenting skills, there are no training institutions available anywhere across the globe.

The source of knowledge about parenting comes from elders, books and other resources.
As the children grow old, they have to face the hassles outside the world. Hence, they need to be taught various skills to deal with the challenges of life.

There are many negative experiences that children may face. Some of the most common ones include:

Bullying: This can take many forms, including physical, verbal, or emotional abuse. It can happen at school, on social media, or in other settings.

Abuse: Children can be subjected to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by parents, caregivers, or other adults.

Neglect: Neglect occurs when a child’s basic needs are not met, such as lack of food, shelter, or medical care.

Trauma: Trauma can occur from a range of events, such as accidents, natural disasters, violence, or witnessing a traumatic event.

Loss: Children can experience loss in many ways, including the death of a loved one, divorce, or relocation.

Discrimination: Discrimination can be based on factors such as race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

Poverty: Children living in poverty may experience a range of negative outcomes, such as food insecurity, poor health, and limited educational opportunities.

These negative experiences can have long-term effects on children’s mental and physical health, as well as their social and emotional well-being. It is important for parents, caregivers, and communities to work together to protect children and provide support when they face difficult experiences.

Here are a few parenting tips to make your children stay positive.

1 Avoid negative self-talk:

What is self negative talks

Self-negative talk, also known as negative self-talk, refers to the inner dialogue or thoughts that individuals have about themselves, which are critical, judgmental, and self-defeating. It involves a constant negative evaluation of oneself, often accompanied by feelings of shame, guilt, and inadequacy. Self-negative talk can take many forms, including:

Self-blame: Holding oneself responsible for negative outcomes, even when the situation was out of their control.

Self-criticism: Focusing on personal flaws and mistakes, often to the exclusion of positive qualities.

Catastrophizing: Over-exaggerating the negative consequences of a situation, leading to anxiety and distress.

Overgeneralization: Believing that one negative experience applies to all situations, leading to a negative worldview.

Filtering: Ignoring positive aspects of a situation and focusing only on negative aspects. Self-negative talk can have a significant impact on mental health and well-being, leading to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It can also interfere with relationships, work, and other important aspects of life.

It is important to recognize self-negative talk and work to replace it with more positive and affirming thoughts. This can involve challenging negative thoughts, practicing self-compassion, and seeking support from others.

2 How can a parent make their children assertive to nurture optimism:

An assertive person is the one who remains full of confidence in dealing with people, and he says and does what he thinks is right. He does not follow others blindly, and he dares to say what he wants and feels.

Teaching children to be assertive can be an important part of their social and emotional development.

Here are some tips for parents to help their child become more assertive:

Encourage open communication: Create an environment where your child feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with you. Listen actively and empathetically, and show that you value their opinions.

Model assertiveness: Children learn by watching their parents, so it’s important to model assertive behavior yourself. Speak up for yourself respectfully and calmly, and show that you value your own needs and opinions.

Practice role-playing: Role-playing situations where your child needs to be assertive can help them build their skills and confidence. This can be done with siblings, friends, or parents.

Teach specific assertiveness skills: Teach your child specific skills, such as saying “no” politely, using “I” statements to express feelings, and standing up for themselves respectfully.

Encourage problem-solving: Teach your child problem-solving skills and encourage them to find solutions to conflicts that honor their own needs and the needs of others.

Praise assertive behavior: When you see your child being assertive, praise them for their behavior and reinforce the positive benefits of standing up for themselves.

By providing a supportive and encouraging environment and teaching specific skills, parents can help their child become more assertive and confident in social situations.

3 Teach them to work on the alternative options:

Sometimes, Children get stuck in their problems, and when they do not find any solution to the same, they get disheartened.

At that time parents ought to show them how some other alternative options can work well to sort out the problem.

This practice helps to strengthen a positive outlook in children.

Here is an example:

Let’s say a child is struggling with a difficult math problem and becomes frustrated and disheartened. The child has tried several times to solve the problem, but has been unable to find a solution. At this point, the parent could step in and suggest alternative options for solving the problem. For example, the parent could suggest breaking down the problem into smaller parts, trying a different approach, or asking a teacher or classmate for help. The parent could also offer words of encouragement and support to help the child maintain a positive outlook. By suggesting alternative options and providing support, the parent is helping the child to develop a growth mindset and a positive outlook. This practice can help children to become more resilient and better able to handle challenges and setbacks in the future.

Also read

How to be an effective listener?

Stay positive stay happy

4 Make them believe that situations change with time:

The children get disheartened when they face problems like bullying, failures and social exclusion etc.

To deal with this, parents should advise the children that situations never remain the same.

They keep changing, and everything becomes okay after some time.

And also encourage the children not to get disheartened and wait patiently for their good fortune.

5 Parental guidance to stay positive – Develop problem-solving skills:

When the child gets stuck in some problem, parents should let them solve the problem on their own. 

This training will develop problem-solving skills in children. When children develop problem-solving skills, they will never give up hope in the middle of any task.

However, Parents must also tell the children that there is no need to be strong all the time. They must seek help from others if required.

So when children are stuck in a problem and do not find the solution despite their best efforts, they must seek help from others without feeling ashamed of their weakness.

Because No one can be perfect or brave all the time, and so there is no need to maintain an image of being strong always in front of others.

Here are some examples of problems related to day-to-day life that children may encounter:

Time management:

Children may struggle with managing their time effectively, such as balancing school work and extracurricular activities or getting ready for school on time.

Solution

Use a planner or calendar to schedule tasks and activities.

Prioritize tasks and tackle the most important ones first.

Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable parts.

Set reminders or alarms to stay on track. Limit distractions, such as social media or television.  

Social conflicts:

Children may experience conflicts with friends or classmates, such as disagreements or bullying. Solution: Practice assertive communication to express needs and boundaries. Try to understand the other person’s perspective and work towards a solution together. Seek help from a trusted adult, such as a teacher or counsellor. Avoid retaliating or engaging in negative behaviors.   Organization: Children may struggle with keeping their things organized, such as keeping their room clean or managing their school supplies.

6 Explain the importance of contentment:

Parents should nurture optimism in children by explaining how other people have worked to maintain confidence in their lives.

Convince them to enjoy what they have instead of crying about what they do not have.+

7 Exercise regularly, eat and sleep well:

Exercising every day with a good night’s sleep and eating a well-balanced diet is one of the best gifts a parent can give to their children.

8. Parental guidance to stay positive, children must do Journal entry:

Journal is writing down what is on one’s mind. Children can track their day-to-day thoughts, feelings, ideas, concerns, accomplishments and disappointments by writing their journals. It helps the children to figure out the solution to their problem in a positive way.

9 Gift yourself a treat:

To develop the feeling of self-respect and self-love, children should practice gifting something to themselves sometimes.

I am very sure by practicing these habits your child may have a positive attitude in all circumstances.

If you think this article will be helpful for all the parents or would-be parents, please share this article.

Conclusion- Parental guidance to stay positive

As parents, one of the most important goals is to raise happy and positive children. This requires adopting positive parenting techniques and strategies that can help foster positivity in children. Teaching children to stay positive can be challenging, but it is essential for their overall wellbeing. Parents can build positive attitudes in children by following various parenting tips for positivity. Some effective ways to develop a positive mindset in children include avoiding negative self-talk, being assertive, teaching problem-solving skills, and emphasizing the importance of contentment. By fostering positivity in children, parents can help them lead happier and more fulfilling lives.