by Hgomez

Created on: November 13, 2009

Just as their bones are, our children's psyche's is underdeveloped and fragile. We do not expose our kids bodies to severe contact, nor should we leave their minds bare and unprotected. As adults we have the maturity and abilty to decipher all of the codes of interaction between ourselves and others. Children haven't learned these tools yet, just as they haven't learned how to drive a car, wire electricity, or install a furnace in a house. We see to it that our children's bodies are nourished so they become strong enough to withstand and fend off viruses, intense physical contact, and illnesses. The same has to be done to our kid's minds. Parents need to build their minds so our kids will charge into the world as adults armed with the tools to handle the mental warfare of life.

The easiest and simplest way of doing this is through encouragement. We need to support their dreams, even as a young toddler. We have to foster their imaginations and their abilities to dream. Our support, encouragement, and enthusiasm at this young age gives them courage to dream bigger as they grow older. When your child comes to you and tells you they want to be a doctor, your response should be encouraging and enthusiastic. Do not mix into the realities of this dream, you know that Medical school is horribly expensive, but your child doesn't need to encounter this road block at this time. You need to promote their willingness to dream, and bombard their minds with positive reinforcement.

By the time your child reaches elementary school age, they should have the beliefs that they can accomplish anything. This belief should be rock solid, and not made of cards. Their dreams will be challenged severely by their peers and even some of the adults they will encounter outside of your presence. These outside forces will attempt to smash their rock hard confidence into pieces, whether they can do it with a wrecking ball, or they chip away at it with a hammer and chisel. Your child's mind has to be strong enough to withstand this attack, and if it isn't, then you need to repair the damage already done, and begin reinforcing their structure. By continuing to support their dreams, encourage them with each individual dream, and enthusiastically dare them to continue to dream. This is the stage in their life when you need to begin listening to them, your child needs to know they can come to you with their concerns, doubts, and questions. They need to know that each time, you will help pick them

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