You have heard this quote “The best thing parents can do for their children is to give them roots and wings.” Ever wondered how are we parents going to nurture strong roots for our children?
Parents are the way to bring a new life to the world. They nurture the little ones. And with the blink of eye time flies. Newborns grow as young adults who move out of the nest and weave a new world. We do not own our kids. But we do pass our love, heritage, and culture to them. (Add a family name to the list too). They soak in some tradition and make a few new ones as they live.
Early years is the time when children learn most. Especially through play as it meets the PILES i.e. Physical, Intellectual, Language, Emotional and Social needs of children. The curious mind of children explores and learns. As parents, we can connect them with strong roots with play. And nurture those roots regularly.
Sharing 5 daily ways to practice with kids and give them strong roots. It works for me and it was practiced by my parents. We hope it can help some parents and caregivers.
5 daily practice to nurture strong roots for our children
Prayer
As parents we put so much effort into physical and mental growth, honing our kid’s motor skills, encouraging them to be social. But another neglected aspect is spiritual growth. By spiritual, I don’t mean reciting verses of religious books or going to religious places blindly or following every religious festival for fun. If you are doing a few of those or all it is indeed great. But what about developing higher awareness of self, the inner being. Prayer is a way to express gratitude and it also helps in getting closer to the inner self. Prayers help us to realize inner strength. And it is a lifelong practice. But an early exposure would definitely help. I hope I make sense! We practice prayer after morning bath and Penguin follows us. He is too young to understand the concept of God or spirituality but with time he would learn this. Remember, an early start.
Cleanliness
Elementary hygiene helps us to prevent many diseases. A neat and clean home, clean air and clean drinking water are basic needs for all. And maintaining the environment around us need effort. When kids are involved in sustaining a healthy home and neighborhood, they would realize its worth. Start small. We try to keep the toddler involved in household chores like dusting and wiping.
Practice the golden words
Words are influential. They can make or break relations. So, practicing the golden words of Thank you, Sorry and Please are essential. They show how grateful, regretful or requesting one is to others. These words help us a lot in the playground. Penguin says a gibberish thanks to older kids and soon they are friends.
Respect
Sadly, we adults unknowingly discriminate a lot. I don’t want to dig deep into this. You can introspect.
Recently, I came across a few kids asking the only girl in the group to leave as they were playing football. Many households keep separate crockery for domestic help. Household chores to be done by ladies at home. When as parents, grandparents, aunts-uncles we show kids that people should be treated by their gender, earning and social status. Kids grow watching the same and practice the same. No brainer in this. Teaching to treat all equally with respect is a huge responsibility. We as adults have to unlearn a few things and then show it.
Help others
Why help others? And why bother kids to help? There is saying “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
Serving others helps you to feel good about yourself. It strengthens a positive bonding. And it need not be anything huge. Help others with a smile and brighten their day. Pass on your unused yet function-able items to needful. Helping your parents, siblings, cousins or friends with some chores. And kids follow the monkey see, monkey does rule. So, needless to say, they would acquire the skill.
As we practice together, we as the family grow together. While embedding these roots to your kid’s personality, remember to teach that, praying never mean escaping from responsibilities. Help and respect others but do stand your ground.
Nurturing roots and Strengthening wings
How often do we wonder of ways to keep our children grounded and secure? Everyday? There might numerous ways but like Dalai Lama XIV says “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.”
It is never easy to draw a defining line between freedom and limitations. But if done right, the concept of “Freedom within limits” become an empowering one.
We can raise children who are resilient. These children are self-sufficient and assured.
How do you make sure to nurture strong roots for your children? Let me know your practices and views.
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Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels
I agree with everything here. But, m a bit skeptical on teaching my kids about helping others. The way the world is going I feel scared what problem(if it all) helping a stranger or even known could bring on a person. But again, perhaps I can encourage to help n the situations will teach them whether to consider helping or no.
True world got both good and evil beings and teaching kids to distinguish them is much needed. Thanks for reading Rashi.
Every Point is to the point…
Thanks for reading.
That’s a great thing to do to Instill in a kid. Making sure that you are laying a great foundation is an important thing and goes a long way.
Cleanliness :’) if only I had been taught that when I was a kid; I wouldn’t be living in the trash can I have around me now.
My niece has a lot of these traits and I feel proud that my sister managed to inculcate all these habits in her from a young age.
Haha. There is always a room for improvement. 😉
This is a very helpful post for moms rying to teach about their roots to their kids. I am currently teaching my 3 yr old his National anthem and he is doing a good job at it so far
You gave me goals Tina. 3 years old singing anthem would be such adorable sight. And important to understand our culture.
You are right parents can give roots and wings to their children and you have mentioned perfect practices which parents can do with children to make their roots stronger.
Thanks for resonating with my thoughts Paresh.
Being a momma of twin toddlers, I always try to inculcate the best habits in my kids. The points you have shared will lay the foundation of an empathic, grounded and considerate human being. Beautifully described.
Thank you so much for your encouraging words Vartika.
Beautiful thoughts here. If we inculcate habits like maintaining cleanliness and good personal hygiene, respecting elders and expressing gratitude for being blessed in life, they sure will grow up into positive and responsible human beings.
Thanks for stopping by Varsh. Hope our teaching do stick with kids for long and they stay responsible ones.
Excellent post. As parents, we are not only responsible for our kids but the impact they are going to leave on the future. Respecting others, saying thanks and sorry and please, sharing with others are very important things every kid has to understand and learn. Also, they have to learn to be considerate and empathise with others’ plight, not laugh at others’ woes etc… Kudos for writing this.
Good point Varad. We need to educate kids with empathy and being considerate. Thanks for pointing it.
Some very important and valid points for keeping in mind while raising a child. The most important ones I found were the ones on hygiene and respect. Somehow we all tend to disrespect our domestic helps and people whom we consider below our economic strata. All human beings are essentially equal in the eyes of god and the law and we have to pass on this message to our children.
Exactly my point. Why even unconsciously lay the foundation of discrimination? Let them know how each one of us is doing a good job without getting into money. Thanks for sharing your views.
An apt post with extremely relevant points. Though I sometimes wonder if we are instilling religion as a priority by aksing them to pray, but then kids are too young to differentiate between religion and spirituality. In due course of time, they will understand the difference. If we wish them to, that is
For young minds distinguishing between religion, believes and spirituality is tough. Whom are we kidding, many adults still don’t get it right. But kids do imitate us and learn. Thanks for reading.
Thats a lovely approach. Prayers is such a wonderful thing to add to the nurturing routine!
Glad you liked it.Thank you.
Could not agree more. Loved the prayer part
Glad. Thanks for reading.
Absolutely agree and liked the part prayers
Thanks for dropping by.
That is such a cute penguin 😉 Not putting too much pressure on kid scan make their life breathable. Let them blossom 🙂
Thanks for reading.
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Very good, these basic things are very important for childrens. Thank You.
Very good, these basic things are very important for childrens. Thank You.
Glad you agree with me. Thanks for reading.