As parents, we have the most impact on our child’s life. While they grow and develop, they will interact with more people and find themselves in different environments. All throughout their life, our children will encounter people who could have a positive or negative influence on their behavior and attitude. This is something we cannot fully control, mama.
Instead, we need to allow them to explore the bigger world out there and learn things on their own. What we can do as their primary caretaker is raise them to have a strong sense of self and trust that they’ll make good choices because we trained them to do so.
Family
It cannot be stressed enough how the family plays a very important role in a child’s behavior and development. How a kid is cared for and loved by their parents and siblings will affect how they will nurture their future relationships and sense of self. If they feel safe and secure in their family, the child is more likely to have better self-esteem and healthier well-being.
Because children learn by observing, it’s important for members of the family to exhibit proper behavior and uphold strong moral values such as respect, compassion, gratitude, honesty, kindness, perseverance, among many others.
On the other hand, negative family relationships can damage or scar a child for life. Toxic family dynamics such as constant conflicts as well as physical, emotional, and verbal abuse can lead to children showing rebellious behavior and lack of self-worth.
Friends and Peers
Remember the immeasurable joy your little one felt when they made their first few friends in kindergarten? Growing up, they will seek and cultivate different types of friendship.
Spending time with happy and supportive friends is good for your child’s overall well-being. Positive friendships increase a person’s sense of belonging and help one cope with the many challenges in life. One can feel like you can go through anything as long as you have good friends around you. Parents should encourage and support such friendships—whether it’s in your child’s preschool, school-aged, or adolescent years. Get to know their “crowd” by inviting their pals to playdates or pajama parties in your home. You may also connect with the parents of your teenager’s friends so you can work with them in ensuring your children’s well-being.
Is your child hanging out with the wrong crowd? This is one of the most common issues when parenting a teen. Intervening with the friendship can be trickier at this time. Experts suggest getting to know that pal first and resisting the urge to badmouth the kid. Instead, open lines of communication with your child and have that discussion about the potential impact of their friend’s bad behavior on them. If the problem has become serious, you may need to reach out to the kid’s parents for intervention.
Teachers and Classmates
When your little one reaches preschool age, they will be spending a significant amount of time in school. Hence, your choice of school will have an impact on your child’s learning and behavior.
The teachers will support their physical, mental, social, and emotional development and guide them in learning concepts and theories. Meanwhile, they will learn to mingle and socialize with their classmates and schoolmates, and probably forge lifelong friendships with them.
We should remember though that bullying also happens in school and our precious child may be exposed to it. Hence, it’s essential to discuss the topic with them so they know how to protect themselves if and when it happens to them.
Internet and Social Media
It’s not only the people they meet that can positively or negatively affect our child. The content they consume can also have an impact on their attitude and behavior. With kids and teenagers using the internet and social media now more than ever, it’s only a must for parents to ensure that our children are staying safe in their digital activities.
Just like with everything in life, moderation is key. We just have to manage their screen time and monitor their activities. This way, we can safeguard them from online predators and inappropriate content.
