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Childhood is a truly special time, and as parents we know it is fleeting. The moments when our children expect everything from us, such as guidance, love, emotional support, are very valuable. I know it’s all too easy to slip into the mindset of begging the next age or stage for a little more independence. But childhood is temporary. They have all their lives to be adults, to act like adults. Why not protect this time and their precious innocence while we can?
Older generations have sayings like “babies don’t hold” and “keep them small”. There’s some wisdom there, and the concept of letting kids stay up as long as possible has been something that has been important to me as I parent my daughters. I was brought up the same way. So I wanted to share what worked for me today; Ways I work to preserve my children’s innocence and foster their childlike spirit. This is not a definitive list! These are simple things that I’ve found work for me and my family, and I know every family is unique. But I hope you find courage here and maybe an idea or two!
6 Ways to Keep Kids “Kids”
1. Dress Them Like Kids
It may sound trivial, but I think there is wisdom in dressing children as children rather than little adults. As you’ve probably heard in professional settings, we are what we wear! If children dress like adults, they act more like adults. If they dress sassy, they tend to act more arrogant. To see this post For more on why dressing kids like kids is important to me – men and girls Also great resources for age-appropriate clothing!
2. Keep Their Minds
What a gift it is to keep children in their innocence as long as possible! I may be old-fashioned, but I don’t think little kids need to know. all. We do not prepare children for the world by exposing them to “everything” early. We equip them with truth and virtue as their greatest influence and trusted authority. Spend time working on these things in the early years and you’ll see the fruits of that later!
Smartphones/tablets are one of the fastest ways to introduce your child to adult topics. And as much as I love the morning news for pre-kids, I didn’t even turn them on as background noise when my kids started getting “listening ears.” In a half-hour episode, they could hear a terrible crime, an earthquake, and watch an inappropriate advertisement. Of course this is just an example because there are many outside influences that force adult issues on our children. And as parents, we must be vigilant about what’s on our children’s minds.
3. Organize Books and Media
Nothing sparks a child’s imagination like a good book, so I always made a point. choose a book for my kids that stimulate imagination and innocence and fill their minds with these wonderful stories every day. When you read your children’s books that foster a childlike spirit, you’ll find this manifested in their behavior and play. It can be difficult to find such books on many shelves today, so we started reading books. Classic Kids Summer Book Club a few years ago and why is it still going strong! We not only give you a great list of great children’s books to read at home (and the classic summer activities to accompany them!), but we also help you review all the options available to find the best of the best books. your family. Books or the media are worth taking the time to determine what is appropriate for your children and their value. they time.
4. Plenty of Free Games
In my experience, overprogrammed kids lack the imagination of the old days. Many children today are given an activity or device to fill their spare time. But kids don’t need these things to have fun! I valued our unscheduled time and loved watching my girls use their imaginations. If your kids are used to being busy, it may seem strange at first – but in fact, over time, you’ll find that free time expands their curiosity and imagination. Young children learn through play and exploration. For older children, it helps them understand what they like and who they are as they have time to think. Freedom to play is a great gift!
5. Daily Outdoor Clock
Curiosity is a big part of the childlike spirit we want for our children and is often grown outside. Children learn a lot about the world around them through nature. It takes extra energy, stimulates their senses, and is healthy for their growing bodies and brains. And you don’t have to have a big backyard for kids to explore! Daily outdoor time served my family well when my daughters were younger – I’m talking all about this and other habits that are important to our family. this post.
6. Clear Parent/Child Boundaries
Children should always be treated with respect, but understanding that there are clear boundaries between adults and children has helped my own children stay in their childhood lanes. They know they have a clear bedtime and cannot keep up with adults. They are taught manners at an early age, also The importance of respecting elders. By teaching kids this from an early age, they begin to accept their parents as the authority – and as noted above, they come to their parents (not friends or social media) for answers to life’s questions down the road.
What would you add to this list? What worked – or didn’t – for your family? I would like to know!
lee
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