01
Love is the compass of children's growth, it guides them to sail towards the sun.
Imagine a father gently picking up his baby in a loving home, and the eyes of this little creature sparkle with curiosity and trust in the world. This is the foundation in the hearts of children, strong and deep, they believe that the world is beautiful, and they are willing to pursue this beauty.
Psychologist Erikson has pointed out that the age of 3 to 0 is an important stage for children to build a sense of trust. Children at this stage are innocent, and their hearts are like a blank sheet of paper, waiting for their parents to depict them with love.
Timely responses, such as giving food when a child is hungry or comforting a child when they are unwell, are telling the child that the world is safe and trustworthy.
The expression of love is equally important.
A simple hug, a tender kiss, or even a loving word can sow the seeds of trust in a child's heart.
These warm moments, like dew in the sun, nourish the child's heart.
In addition, establishing a regular routine is also an important part of building trust for children. When life is in order, children feel at ease. Just as the sun rises on time every day and the moon comes every night as scheduled, the child's heart will feel calm because of this law.
As children enter the age of 6 to 0, they begin to show a strong sense of autonomy.
At this stage, understanding becomes the keyword. A child's world begins to expand, and they will have their own preferences, ideas, and even small puzzles.
When a child is reluctant to go to kindergarten, or when a tantrum suddenly occurs, the parent's first reaction may be to reprimand or threaten, but this is not the right way to solve the problem.
What parents need to do is to listen patiently and understand their children's feelings.
Only in this way will the child feel that his emotions and ideas are valued, which will strengthen his trust in his parents.
In primary school, children's self-awareness and self-esteem are more pronounced.
This is where parental acceptance becomes crucial. Accepting your child's true self is not an easy task. Children may deviate from their parents' expectations in terms of academics, personality, interests, etc., but true acceptance means that parents are willing to appreciate and support their children's personality and choices.
This kind of acceptance gives children the freedom and space to grow, so that they feel loved and respected in the process of self-exploration.
Adolescent children are in a transitional period of psychological maturity.
At this time, respect becomes the key to maintaining the parent-child relationship. Parents need to learn to let go and let their children explore and make mistakes on their own. As psychologist Ichiro Kishimi said, the biggest goal of education is to cultivate "self-reliant" people. Parents' respect and letting go is not only a trust in their children, but also the cultivation of children's future self-confidence and independent living ability.
Through these stages of love, understanding, acceptance, and respect, the child's core will become solid.
They will learn to trust the world and face life's challenges with confidence and joy.
Just like the little baby who was gently picked up by his father, the trust that flashed in his eyes will accompany him through every stage of his life and become his most valuable treasure.
02
Getting children to trust us is not just an expectation, it's a responsibility, isn't it?
The role of parents is undoubtedly crucial in the development of children. From 12-to-0 love, to 0-0 understanding, to 0-0 acceptance, each stage is the key to building trust.
However, when children enter the age group of 12 to 0 years, the problem begins to become more complicated.
At this stage, children begin to form their own values, and their world no longer revolves around their parents alone. They begin to have their own circle of friends, their own interests and hobbies, and even begin to form an independent view of the world.
At this time, the role of parents should also change. It's no longer about satisfying needs, it's about learning to accept.
Acceptance, as simple as it sounds, is hard to do.
Especially when our children exhibit traits that don't match our expectations. It may be unsatisfactory academic performance, or it may be some personality traits, such as introversion, impatience, etc...... Our first reaction to these is often to change them rather than accept them.
But true acceptance means that we understand and respect the child's choices and existence as an individual. This does not mean letting go, but accepting their true selves while giving proper guidance and help.
Of course, the process is not easy.
Especially when we see other children doing well, it is inevitable that there will be comparisons in our hearts. But we need to understand that every child is unique, and they have their own pace and direction for growth.
As parents, our task is to support them, not change them.
Here I would like to share a little story. There was a father whose son did not excel in his studies and was very introverted. At first, the father was very anxious and always tried to make his son more cheerful and excel in his studies.
But later, he realized that what he was doing was only stressing out his son. So, he began to try to accept his son for who he really is, encouraging him to develop his interests.
As a result, the son not only became more confident, but also achieved amazing results in his field of interest.
From this story, we can see that acceptance not only makes children feel loved and secure, but also brings out their inner potential. This is because, when children feel accepted by their parents, they will be more willing to try new things and will not be afraid to fail even if they fail.
Undoubtedly, this sense of security is fertile ground for children's self-confidence and self-esteem to grow.
03
In fact, trust, a complex and delicate concept in the adult world, is even more precious and fragile in the child's world.
As Erikson said, building trust is the cornerstone of every child's development, but we shouldn't stop there. For parents, building trust is not only a goal, but also a responsibility, a continuous effort.
First, we need to recognize that trust doesn't happen overnight.
Just as a tree takes time to grow, trust also needs time and patience to cultivate. For parents, this means that they need to consistently and firmly demonstrate love, understanding, acceptance, and respect for their children. In this process, every word and deed of parents is sending a message to their children: "You are loved, you are respected, and you are trustworthy." ”
It's an enduring commitment, not a temporary comfort that only comes when the child needs it.
Further, the cultivation of trust is not a one-way street.
Parents show trust to their children, and children need to show trust in their parents. It's a two-way process that takes time and experience to build and strengthen.
For example, when parents respect their children's decisions, allow them to make mistakes and learn from them, they are actually teaching their children how to trust themselves and how to remain strong and confident in the face of challenges and failures.
In addition, the establishment of trust also means the establishment of boundaries.
Parents need to find a balance between love and doting, understanding and indulgence. Overprotection or overindulgence can undermine a child's sense of trust. Children need to understand that trust does not mean unlimited freedom, but rather growing up in a safe, loving, and disciplined environment.
Finally, we must recognize that trust-building is a dynamic process that changes as the child grows and changes.
Parents need to constantly adjust their behaviors and strategies to suit the needs of their children at different stages. This requires parents to have a deep understanding and compassion for their children, as well as the courage to accept their children's growth and independence.
To sum up, building trust is a complex but wonderful journey.
This is not only the foundation of children's growth, but also the embodiment of parents' wisdom and love. Through constant love, understanding, acceptance, and respect, parents can help their children build a solid sense of trust that will give them confidence and courage in their future lives. At the same time, the parents themselves will be grown and enlightened, and it will be a win-win journey.
Proofread by Zhuang Wu