The Importance Of The Answers You Give Your Children
Children are curious about nature. They discover the whole world and therefore often ask questions. Sometimes we are busy or distracted and use some excuse to avoid it. But the answers you give your children are of great importance.
The information you provide, and also your attitude when responding, can affect parts of their personality and self-esteem. Although we are sometimes inclined to give a vague or ambiguous answer, we should always try to answer children’s questions properly.
Listen to their questions
We have many obligations in everyday life and often lack the time to fulfill them. No wonder we can try to hurry through the day and feel that we do not have the time or means to take a break for a deep conversation with our children. Still, it is important to show children that their questions are important and that their curiosity is valuable.
Maybe they are asking a question at the wrong moment, but it is best to evaluate their initiative and resume the conversation later. When we later have time, we can sit down with our children and devote our full attention to them. A gesture as small as valuing, addressing and giving weight to their questions has a positive effect on their self-image.
It teaches them how positive it is to ask how the world works and that they want to know more about it. They feel that they are valuable and interesting because mom and dad care about the things they say.
Sincerity in the answers you give your children
When giving information to your children, it is important that what you say is true. Of course, you need to adapt the message to their age and cognitive abilities. But despite this, it is of utmost importance that your answer is sincere.
It strengthens your children’s trust in you and you become a role model for honesty for them. They will be more likely to feel comfortable opening up to you if you promote a relationship of closeness and sincerity from the very beginning.
Whether you are talking about general information (for example, the dreaded question ” Where do children come from?” ) Or if you refer to your own feelings (” Why are you crying, mother? “), It is always best to give an honest and sincere answer. .
It is better for children’s intellectual and emotional development to hear an adapted version of what reproduction means, instead of listening to the old story of the stork. It is also more enriching to know that mother is crying because she feels sad and that it is a normal feeling. Answering “There is nothing ” can confuse them.
If you do not know the answer to any of your children’s questions, it is better to acknowledge it in a natural way and suggest that you look for the answer together. By doing so, you teach them how to find out things for themselves, by, for example, looking it up in a dictionary or borrowing a book from the library that deals with the subject.
The answers you give your children can promote their critical thinking
Whenever you can, try to give answers to your children that make them use their imagination and their intellect. Sometimes it is more enriching to get help to find the answer yourself instead of getting the solution at once.
Ask them to express their views on various issues and ask them to speculate on what the answers might be. Also ask for their opinion on the answer you gave them and encourage stimulating conversations.
Be careful with the answers you give your children
Asking questions is one of the most important ways for children to build their perception of the world around them. As parents, we are their most important references, and therefore it is important to be aware of how we react and respond.
It is up to us to build a strong self-esteem in our children, as well as to convey that they are intelligent, creative and capable people. By taking the time to answer their questions, we also strengthen our bonds with them.
Finally, let your words be a guide, but also let the children experience, discover and find out information on their own.
