Personal Development for Kids
How to Encourage Self-Improvement in Children
Adults have been aware of self-help resources for many years now. But how can you as parents or guardians be good role models, stay motivated, and get your children involved? The following five suggestions can be structured throughout a child's day so that both parent and child can focus on personal growth and development.
Affirmations
Creating and saying affirmations, or positive statements of intent, can easily be taught to children as young as two years old. Developing this healthy habit can be empowering as it helps kids create a purposeful day filled with love and confidence. You can work together with small and school-age children using morning affirmations in their daily routines. To help teenagers, you may suggest sticky notes on their mirrors or computer area as a reminder.
Manifestation Principle
Manifesting what you want in life is a conscious and co-creative process. Children are known for having insatiable desires and to directly involve them in a Law of Attraction experience can be rewarding and fulfilling. Some aspects to learn include the following:
- Honoring genuine needs and setting achievable goals
- Visualizing success by describing how you would think, feel, and act if your "wish" came true
- Working with the Universe to bring about your goal and following inner guidance
- Surrendering the situation and having patience with the process
- Expressing gratitude for all that you have, all that you are, and all that you receive
Organizational Skills
From toddlerhood, children can learn day to day family routines and habits. By role modeling cleanliness, preparation, and organization in a fun and authoritative (not authoritarian) way, kids will develop a sense of comfort and trust. For example, instilling organization ability in a three year old can be done by designating a certain place for toys, clothes, and art supplies. As children enter higher grades in school, having organizational capabilities will be beneficial in order to balance class schedules, extracurricular activities, homework, social outings, and family obligations.
Self-Responsibility
Learning to take responsibility is a favored attribute in children and adults. As kids understand that mistakes happen, they can develop fears about admitting when they did something wrong, even if it was an accident. It is important for you as a caregiver to acknowledge your own errors in judgment. Looking up to you for guidance, they will realize it's wiser to admit when they're at fault and claim responsibility for their actions and consequences.
Relaxation Techniques
Instructing children on practices such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga brings to light the importance of self-care and stress relief. Kids of all ages experience stress, but it can manifest differently depending on the age group. Methods of relaxation that can be done throughout the day can teach a child to release built-up tension before it becomes a physical problem.
Even from a young age, children can begin a personal quest in growth and development. By involving kids in healthy habits for life, you can become a trustworthy guide, role model, and support system in their everyday journey towards self-improvement.
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