As exciting as parenthood seems, it brings loads of responsibility and new learning experiences. From spending sleepless nights during the newborn stage to managing the constant tantrums of toddlers, parenting isn’t easy, especially for new parents with no holistic guidebook to learn to parent. However, the real joy comes from living the small moments and seeing the tiny human being grow and develop healthily. The significant number of research studies has made it possible for new parents to learn and understand their newborns’ physiological, emotional, social, and psychological needs. Here you’ll learn parenting tips to help raise a physically and emotionally healthy child.
1. Pay attention to their physical development:
Early years are extremely important for the physical growth of a child. The scheduled checkups at pediatricians should not be ignored. The reason for any unusual behavior and pains should be taken seriously and should be addressed immediately. For instance, Erb’s palsy is a preventable injury that occurs during childbirth and affects almost 2.6 out of 1000 live births. It directly impacts the nerve development of a child, where a child may face significant arm weakness. If the condition’s symptoms remain persistent even after six months of the child’s birth, it needs proper medical care and treatment, which is often quite expensive. In such cases, it is best to consult an erbs palsy attorney for legal assistance to file a lawsuit and receive financial compensation for neglect by a healthcare provider or facility during childbirth.
2. Understand and acknowledge their needs:
Parents, being the primary caregivers, should be attentive and sensitive to the needs of their newborns. Since newborns cannot communicate their needs through words, parents must understand their needs through sounds, movements, and crying sessions. Unmet needs usually result in crying sessions, so there’s no need to panic about them. Once you understand the child’s needs through nonverbal cues, it’s equally important to acknowledge and fulfill them on time. This will help build trust and a sense of reliability for the child.
3. Develop a bond of trust:
A child establishes his first-ever relationship with his parents, and this relationship begins even before he comes into this world. This prenatal attachment further strengthens during early childhood. The constant love and care through physical connection and timely met needs develop a bond of trust for the children who consider themselves safe. These early experiences determine their brain growth and development, which in later years of adulthood helps formulate an emotionally stable personality.
4. Focus on their emotional development:
As much as the physical growth and development of the child are important, emotional development holds an equal place in the formulation of a child’s personality. Daniel Goleman, a renowned psychologist, estimates that IQ only contributes 20 percent to the success of any person, while Emotional Intelligence or Emotional Quotient (EQ), along with other social factors, contributes to the rest of 80 percent. While studies suggest that emotional development manifests itself in a child from 4 to 5 years old, the journey begins far earlier. Therefore, parents need to understand, acknowledge and react appropriately to all sorts of emotions a child exhibits.
5. Gentle parenting:
All this physical and emotional development requires gentle parenting. Parenting is an emotionally and physically taxing job, yet it affects the personality of a little human raised to be a productive member of society. Instead of reacting hysterically to a child’s crying sessions, a calm response can go a long way to soothe the disturbed child.
6. Firm and consistent behavior:
Parenting comes in different phases and forms. A gentle and kind parent doesn’t necessarily need to be over-compliant. There are certain scenarios where your response should be kind but firm simultaneously. For example, if you do not want your child to eat junk, you should firmly tell them “No,” and that behavior should be consistent so that they learn the idea of eating healthy. That is important because a child’s cognitive learning depends on repeated behaviors and responses, so consistency is key here.
7. Focus on your well-being:
Parenting should never mean not focusing on your well-being. Studies have shown that a healthy and emotionally stable parent can raise their child better than others. So work on your relationship with your spouse. Take some time out for yourself; either go on a date night or resume the hobby that helps you unwind and rejuvenate. This way, you feel more energized and empowered to perform your parent role better.
8. Pay uninterrupted attention:
Often parents are extremely busy with their work schedules and parenting chores that they find it difficult to give proper attention to their kids. If this pattern continues for longer, it makes them feel less valued and ignored. So spending some time together in an uninterrupted space can help children feel loved and heard. Taking them out to a park or listening to their stories during bedtime can be helpful in bonding with your child.
9. Talk to your children:
Communication is critical in every relationship. Talk to your child even if he is too little to talk. This creates an environment of communication where a child knows that their parents are there for them and they can speak to them about all their problems, feelings, and needs.
10. Spend time in nature:
Nature is a source of energy, positivity, and healing. Spending time with your child in the lap of Mother Nature can have a lasting impact on his overall growth and development. Let them play in the sun, sand, and mud. Playing indoors with little time outdoors can deprive them of the benefits of sunlight in the form of vitamin D. In today’s age, it is almost inevitable to keep kids off screens, which has plenty of harmful effects on children. But research has shown that spending time in sunlight can help offset these harmful effects.
Conclusion:
Parenting is a joyful journey that reconnects with your long-lost childhood and helps you relive it with your children. Parents put in all their energy to ensure their children’s physical and emotional development. And being a parent, it is our prime responsibility to give them a healthy life. A healthy child will ultimately be able to explore the unlimited opportunities of the world.