In the beginning, children innocently think that everything is about them. They are fussed over at home, are looked after at nursery school and parents let them know how they are their whole world. It can be difficult for them to understand the concept of caring and being kind to others. This is known as mindfulness.
As a parent you aim to help your child become a good, decent person who cares, is considerate, humble and compassionate. It is never too early to start teaching your child to be caring. In fact, the earlier you start, the easier it will be. It starts to become instilled in their personality, and it is a part of them that will grow as they do.
Caring Pre-schoolers
Pre-schoolers are notorious for thinking only of themselves. It is difficult for them to see outside of their own self and consider that others might be affected by their actions. However, there are ways and practices to teach them to care and to be considerate, even from such a young age. Try these tips to help your child become a mindful human being.
- Lead the way
A compassionate and caring parent will lead the way for a compassionate and caring child. If you practice compassion and tell them what passion is, label it for them to and in front of them, they will see this as normal behavior. You need to remember that you are role model number one, and what you do, they see as the right way to do something.
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| Nursery School - Falcon British Nursery |
- Be kind to everyone
There should be no criteria for who you are kind to. When you drop them off at nursery school, help your child to say hello to the other children. Help them greet the staff and the cleaners. If something falls, ask your child to help pick it up and give it to the person who dropped it. Doing these random acts of kindness will show your child every single person deserves kindness and caring. Practicing empathy, to the waiter, bus driver and the doctor, anyone that crosses your path, really shows your child that being kind has no agenda, it is to help others. Practicing empathy whether to the waiter, bus driver or doctor and anyone that crosses their path really shows your child that being kind has no agenda, it is to help others.
- Teach manners
From day one, remind your child to use good manners. Please and thank you teaches them that every person is worthy of respect and this respect leads to caring. It teaches them about social norms and fitting into society. Teach them that different cultures have different manners.
- Understand feelings
Ask your child situation-appropriate questions throughout the day. If they don’t want to share with another child, ask them how they think the other child feels. If one of their friends at nursery runs up to them with a big hug hello, ask them if that made them feel good. By recognising that caring acts of kindness make others feel good, it will encourage them to be compassionate to others.
- Give back
Sometimes seeing is believing. Taking them to do a beach clean up or volunteer at an event with your whole family might give them the visual stimulus they need to understand that there are those out there who have much less than they do or that it is important to care for something bigger than oneself. They will be able to start to understand that we all have a responsibility to help others. This is a priceless learning opportunity for them.
- Starting young
Your young child will amaze you. When leading in the right direction, they can be the most incredibly caring and compassionate people around. They have so much love to give, and it is up to parents to show them that through caring and kindness they can be mindful humans.
