As children get older, their communication skills will change and help them to better connect with you and the world. Spend time playing, talking, and cuddling with your child; these may seem like unimportant and obvious activities, but they help children build strong language and interpersonal skills! Children who can communicate well have higher levels of achievement in school and are less likely to struggle with reading and writing.

From happy and sad to anxious and mad, helping your child learn how to name and share their emotions can lead to so many benefits, including improved communication skills and better peer relationships. So whether it’s tears or laughter, talk to your child about their feelings and help them become experts in emotion!

Throughout their lives, your children will depend on you to help them understand and deal with their emotions, feelings, and moods. Learning important skills and strategies for managing emotions will allow them to have better mental health, academic achievement and social relationships. Talk to your kids about emotions. Think of it as money in the bank – investing your time and energy now will lead to a lifetime of emotional wealth!

As parents and caregivers, we believe in our children.  We are ready at a moment’s notice to cheer them on from the sidelines.  But children need to have confidence in their own abilities as well.  Children who believe that they are able to set and reach goals, make good decisions, and face and overcome challenges are exhibiting self-perceived competence.  They are aware of their own ability to make positive changes within their world, and with parents and caregivers serving as a support team around them, look out world!

Problem solving is a critical skill that is useful in almost any situation. As parents, we can’t always be there to solve every problem for our children. In fact, it is our job to teach our children how to solve problems for themselves. This way, they can become confident, independent, and successful individuals. Taking the time to build your child’s problem-solving skills, rather than intervening, can not only improve their ability to settle conflict with others, but can also lead to school successes and improved mental health. So take a step back, and teach your child how to resolve any problem they encounter!

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could bubble wrap our children against life’s bumps, bruises, and hardships? But don’t worry. Working through difficult experiences will help your child bounce back stronger than before – this is resilience and it is one of life’s most important skills. Put on the superhero cape and let the adventures begin. Take risks! Explore! Seek out challenges!

From arguments to squabbles, bickering to all-out brawls, kids get into conflict with their friends and family members every day. Constantly clashing with your little one can take all of your focus, leaving little energy to teach them how to better handle conflict. Navigating conflict in a thoughtful and respectful manner can help your child build strong relationships and self-confidence; it can even strengthen kindness and empathy within your home.  So drop the sword – we’re not fighting any battles today.

Being aware and respectful of differences helps us to interact with the world with openness, acceptance, and appreciation.  “Diversity” refers to more than just different people – it is a willingness to engage with things that are unfamiliar and act with curiosity and care.  Teaching our children how to embrace diversity is one of our most important responsibilities.