HEAL Foundation has engaged with more than 8000+ students since 2019 on their emotional well-being through their various Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and workshops. And the concerning trend we are observing is the rise in challenges related to children's emotional well-being. Anxiety, anger issues, lack of self-esteem resulting in lack of motivation in becoming better, depression and suicidal thoughts at very early age are on the rise. One of the common underlying issues behind these challenges is "lack of warmth at home". It is heartbreaking to see that parents in their busy schedules are not able to notice early signs and support their children through these challenges.
During the many interactions with children and parents, HEAL has always emphasized on the following non-negotiables that children crave for and which all parents owe to their children.
"TIME" - Spend 30 minutes out of 1440 minutes/day with your child. Have conversation about them, their life, their world or do anything else except ACADEMICS / DOs and DON'Ts...
Don't analyze and judge their every action with a thought of "WHAT IF they will do this when they grow up.." Focus and Do what is required for the child present in front of your eyes NOW, not for an image of 20+ yr old in your mind.
To connect, help and support them, THINK THE WAY THEY THINK...SEE THEIR WORLD THROUGH THEIR EYES. Help them to navigate their issues in their ways. You can't direct and give instructions to their mind. They need to understand and manage their own mind. .
Don't keep looking them as a target / goal to achieve as a part of your success story. They are human beings in making. They are born with their own abilities to think, feel and act. How you nurture their physical growth with nutrition, nurture their emotional growth with love and care.
Listen and trust them when they come and tell you about any kind of abuse, physically, emotional, verbal or sexual. It may look SMALL FOR YOU, BUT IT IS BIG FOR THEM. Validate their feeling, enquire in detail and take required actions. DON'T SHUT THEM.
In case of any issues at home due to finance, family, marriage, sickness, or death, have age appropriate conversations around it. Help them to understand the issue and process their feelings around it. DON'T NEGLECT THEM AND THEIR FEELINGS.
Build your emotional strength to help them build theirs. Learn to PAUSE and RESPOND and NOT REACTÂ in any kind of conflict with your child.
While parents spend lot of money and time on children's academics and extra-curricular activities, it is not ENOUGH. The need of an hour is to invest more time and effort in building their emotional strength. How parents have defined non-negotiables for children, let's have non-negotiables for parents to improve their parenting journey and building emotionally stable and strong foundation in children.
From Team HEAL