Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan on Parenting: 6 Ways to raise kinder, more patient kids

Actress Nayanthara and her husband, filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, have often spoken about valuing simplicity, emotional balance, and strong family bonds in their personal lives. As parents, their approach reflects a calm, grounded mindset that focuses on raising children with kindness, patience, and empathy. In a fast-paced world where children are constantly exposed to pressure and distractions, parenting with intention has become more important than ever. Their journey highlights how small, thoughtful actions at home can shape a child’s emotional growth. Here are six meaningful ways parents can raise kinder and more patient children, inspired by their parenting outlook.

Children learn more through observation than through direct instruction. Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara have always emphasized having a grounded approach regardless of their fame and success, and it is also reflected in their parenting. If parents behave calmly, respect each other, and demonstrate politeness and empathy during interaction, children learn from observing this behaviour and imitating their parents' conduct.

In an interview, Nayanthara suggested avoiding showing televisions or phones during mealtimes. Mealtime is an excellent opportunity to talk with the child and spend quality time without any distractions. Eating without screens helps kids concentrate on their food and understand their physical needs. Such behaviour also contributes to healthy eating and proper interaction between parents and the child.

It is hard to imagine that kids would suddenly become patient. Patience develops gradually when a child learns to be careful about his/her actions and wait patiently. While interacting with kids, avoid doing things immediately. Instead, parents should explain to the child how important it is to be calm when waiting for a certain result.

One of the main aspects of having well-developed emotional stability and empathy is to be able to listen and understand one's emotions. Parents need to give children freedom of expression and allow them to feel free about discussing different feelings they experience. By doing so, they will develop the skill of being empathic towards other people.

While growing up, children will often do things incorrectly because it's a learning process for them. It is essential to react calmly in challenging situations rather than get angry or criticize the child harshly. Instead of punishment, parents should teach kids to distinguish right from wrong and encourage taking responsibility.

In today's world, parents tend to work a lot, leaving little time to spend with the child. But even short moments during which parents play, chat with their kid, read books, cook together and eat a meal, contribute to their overall emotional development and the establishment of moral principles.