Every parent wants their child to grow up to be a happy, healthy adult, but it doesn’t just happen out of nowhere. Your children will look to you for guidance on how they should behave and what values they should keep. Raising a competent adult is a difficult process, and as long as you do your best to keep them on the right track, that’s all people can ask of you. Let’s take a look at some important characteristics to instill in your child before they need to take on the big, bad world.
Confidence
The mark of a well-adjusted adult is one who is confident in who they are as a person. This can be a difficult trait to pass on to a child, but remember that they will look to you as they try to understand the world and themselves. When they are unsure, encourage them to try anyway. Don’t be afraid to let them fail, but be sure to be there to pick them up and praise them for trying.
Empathy
It can sometimes seem like children have a hard time with this trait, especially while they are very young. However, it’s one of the most important characteristics to instill in your child because it affects how they interact with the world. The process of learning that their actions have consequences on other people and other people’s feelings matter is a crucial step toward growing up into a healthy, functional adult.
Generosity
A generous child is one that will have a much easier time getting through life. Not only does the act of giving imbue a sense of purpose, but it also helps keep your child connected to the world around them. There are many ways to do this, but the most important thing to remember is that this is a trait that they will follow you in. By being generous yourself, you teach your child that giving back is a good thing that healthy people do.
Curiosity
A child that keeps their curiosity is one that will always have something to focus on and something new to learn. By fostering a child’s curiosity, you allow them to think outside of the box and come up with solutions to problems that they would have never done so otherwise.
Resilience
It can be so hard to see children struggling and having a difficult time with something. However, it is in these moments that children develop their resilience to problems and roadblocks. Try to allow them a bit of time to figure out problems for themselves rather than just fixing everything for them. This struggle will create a feeling of independence and strength of character you want in your child.
While every parent wishes they could teach their child everything they will need to know, we are all only human. Focusing your efforts on helping your child grow into a self-assured adult is really the best thing you can do for them.
