Kindness and compassion are qualities that children learn to adopt as they grow older. There are a number of influences around them that can change how they perceive kindness, but there are also a number of ways we as parents can motivate children to be better people.
Throughout their childhood, they’ll be able to pick up on more things their parents do and advise on as well. With this in mind, this boarding school in London has put together some advice for raising a compassionate child through their younger years.
Show them manners
Saying your pleases and thank yous is important, but it’s also about the level of respect your child can provide to others and understanding how supporting others is key to their development. Show them how to be supportive of others and how others will view them thanks to their kindness towards family members and friends.
Model positivity in the home
Show that you’re a positive person, where you’re able to, around your child so that they can model their views around yours. If they’re surrounded by negative thoughts, bad attitudes and pessimism then your child’s more likely to follow that from their parents. What you do and say in front of your children is critical, so let your child see you at your happiest times.
Treat your child with respect
Respect is often earned, so show that your child should be respecting you as you show them how to be compassionate. Sometimes your child might disagree with what you’re saying, like for example they might want to spend another hour playing with friends. Show them that they can’t always have what they necessarily want but next time they’ll be able to play with their friends longer as a compromise. Successful conflict resolution will allow your child to learn when to accept changes to plans and compromises.
*This is a collaborative post.
Showing and teaching compassion is essential to a child’s wellbeing