How to raise kids who will thrive in adulthood

Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas via Pexels

Every parent wants their children to grow into secure, confident, and kind adults. It’s our job to supply them with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive. The earlier we start, the better results.

While there are various factors that influence a child’s development, parents of successful children have several important things in common. Using these tried-and-true parenting techniques with your own children can set them up for success.

Focus on Your Relationship with Your Child

The most important thing you can do as a parent is to make sure your kids feel loved regardless of their accomplishments, interests, or opinions. Build a close connection with your children and the rest will follow.

• Spend time enjoying a shared activity with your kids as often as possible.

• Take a few minutes out of every day to give your children your undivided attention.

• Eat meals together as a family.

• Work to foster a relationship of trust between you and your kids.

Practice Self-Care and Model Healthy Behaviors

Taking care of yourself will show your kids how to act and behave to thrive. Children are great at picking up the behaviors of their parents, so use this to your advantage.

• Spend time nurturing your relationships with friends and loved ones.

• Dedicate time to self-improvement, whether this means going back to school or hitting the gym.

• Don’t overschedule your family if it means being stressed, overworked, and unhappy.

• Turn to healthy stress-reducing activities like exercise and meditation.

Support Their Emotional Growth

Emotional regulation is a skill your kids won’t learn in school. Help them develop the skills they need to manage their emotions and feel in control.

• Empathize with your children and learn how to validate their feelings.

• Don’t try to rescue them from feelings of sadness, anger, or frustration.

• Share your feelings with your children to help them feel comfortable discussing their emotions.

Not only is parenting hard, but it can also be frightening. Learning to let go and allow your children to make decisions, experience natural consequences, and feel discomfort may go against your natural instinct to protect them. But shaping your children into capable, confident, and well-adjusted adults requires you to take a step back. Offer guidance and support, but make sure you let them practice important skills that will help them thrive as adults.

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Derek Goodman is an entrepreneur. He’d always wanted to make his own future, and he knew growing his own business was the only way to do that. He created his site Inbizability, to offer you tips, tricks, and resources so that you realize your business ability and potential now, not later.