Why It's Important to Encourage Children

What was the last encouraging statement you made to your child? Do you often encourage your child or children? Do you encourage any child? It is so important that we give positive encouragement to our children. Remember, they are our future and these same children will most likely be taking care of us in our old age and helping to run the country in the future. Here are just a few tips to help encourage your child or a child.

Children are just that, "children." They will make plenty of mistakes in order to establish right from wrong. This is where we as parents come in. Instead of always letting a child know when they've done something wrong all the time, make sure you take the time to acknowledge when they do things right. Trust me, children take notice and it will mean a lot to them if they are praised for something they've done right. If we always focus on the wrong things that they do, they will feel as if they can never do anything right. I want my kids to know I have confidence in them. I want them to know they can do anything they put their minds to as long as it isn't illegal!

If you believe in your kids, guess what, they will believe in themselves! I once read a story of a lady who realized how she had been bruising her child's self-esteem and didn't realize it (I honestly don't remember where I read it at, but I do remember it).

This woman's daughter played soccer and she was one of the best players on the team, but after every game her mother would always point out the mistakes she made in the game on the way home. She would always tell her what she could have done better. After a while, the little girl decided she didn't want to play soccer anymore and began to become anti-social. When her mother finally asked her what was wrong and said she was one of the best players on the team. She didn't understand why she didn't want to play soccer anymore and why she would just quit all of a sudden. The little girl finally opened up and told her mother why she didn't want to play anymore. The little girl said that she does the best she can when she's out there on the soccer field and after every game her mother only made her feel like a failure for pointing out all her mistakes instead congratulating her, being happy for her, and just having fun. Needless to say this mother learned a very important lesson in the need to encourage her child. The mother promised she would only focus on having fun and only give advice if the little girl asked for it. This is a very good example of why we should always encourage our children. Who knows this little girl may have become a professional soccer player!

As a parent, I always want my children to be the best they can be and do their best in whatever it is they want to do. I feel it's ok to push them a little but to not discourage them by pushing them too hard. It is helpful if you let children suggest the things that they want to do sometimes. They will probably have be more willing to help when they suggest something and enjoy a it a bit more. Remember these are our future presidents, doctors, lawyers, nurses, singers, athletes, entrepreneurs, authors, etc. Encourage them to be their best in whatever it is that they want to do or be. Also remember, our children are a little reflection of us as parents. When we encourage our child, the cycle continues for generations to come. Kids learn by being taught. Teach them to encourage one another.