Thought of the Day: “Children grow best where calm is practised daily”

In a world that sometimes moves a little too quickly for comfort, it is the child's immediate world that he/she depends upon for a sense of safety and understanding. "A child thrives where calmness is a daily practice" is an easy phrase to remember and represents an important parenting insight. Calmness does not necessarily convey silence and a lack of discipline, you understand? But it does convey a sense of safety and emotional stability. After all, a calm and peaceful life helps to create a confident and emotionally balanced child. This is how it happens.A chilly environment enables kids to emotionally feel safeChildren flourish when they feel safe, with a calm environment being an essential ingredient of that safety. When the behavior of the adults around them is gentle and unimpulsive, children discover that their emotions are legitimate and under control. Calm tones of voice indicate safety, as do structured environments and patient interaction. Children feel free to be themselves without fear when their environment is such that they feel confident that their “place” will be there to shield them in times of uncertainty or emotional turmoil. Daily calm teaches emotional regulation by exampleChildren imitate ways of dealing with their emotions from their elders. When calmness is inculcated in their lives daily, children automatically imitate the same. Rather than being taught, children absorb lessons about their emotions through experiences. Watching grown-ups pause to breathe before responding to a situation teaches children how to control their emotions.Calming routines encourage healthy brain functionsA calm environment will help reduce stress hormones that might affect the development of the brain. A predictable environment will help the child's brain focus on learning rather than on survival. When a child grows in a calm environment, the child's brain will help create a connection linked to the development of the child's memory, attention, and emotional development.Calm communication builds a stronger relationship between parentsCalm practice fosters effective communication between adults and children. The belief that their thoughts and feelings are being heard and not just interrupted makes children trust adults. Calm communication provides an opportunity for understanding. Children can express their ideas without fear. This makes them emotionally close to adults. As a result, children get a chance to differentiate between effective and ineffective communication.Calm promotes resiliency and confidenceChildren brought up in a calm atmosphere develop the ability to deal with difficult circumstances. Children can learn to treat setbacks as learning experiences if they are not scolded but instead guided in a calm manner. By living in a world of daily calm, they can learn that their emotions are controllable and that problems can be solved in a calm manner.