Lions From Lambs

Rob Malone is an Irish-born American. He is a schoolteacher, speaker, philosopher, strategist and writer.

  • The Power of Authentic Praise for Children

    In today’s world, children are often showered with praise and compliments, regardless of their actual achievements. While positive reinforcement is crucial for a child’s self-esteem and motivation, empty praise can have unintended consequences. 

    Empty praise, such as praising children for their inherent traits or providing excessive compliments, fails to acknowledge their efforts and growth. Authentic praise, on the other hand, focuses on the specific actions, progress, and perseverance demonstrated by children. By highlighting their actual accomplishments, parents and educators can cultivate a growth mindset in children. This mindset encourages them to believe that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort and learning. Genuine recognition of their achievements boosts their confidence, reinforces the idea of hard work paying off, and motivates them to continue striving for excellence.

    Empty praise shields children from failure, setbacks, and challenges, denying them the opportunity to learn and grow from these experiences. Authentic praise, rooted in actual accomplishments, prepares children to face adversity and develop resilience. When children are praised for their specific achievements, they learn to appreciate the value of perseverance and resilience in the face of obstacles. This recognition reinforces their ability to confront challenges with determination and adaptability. As they encounter difficulties, they become more willing to put in the effort needed to overcome them, building their resilience and developing a robust problem-solving approach.

    Empty praise often focuses on external validation, leading children to seek approval solely from others. In contrast, genuine praise for actual accomplishments nurtures intrinsic motivation within children. By acknowledging their concrete achievements, parents and educators help children develop an internal sense of competence and self-worth. This intrinsic motivation is driven by personal satisfaction and a genuine desire for growth, enabling children to set and pursue meaningful goals independently. When children are praised for their actual accomplishments, they gain confidence in their abilities, leading to a self-reinforcing cycle of self-motivation and continuous improvement.

    Empty praise can create unrealistic expectations and inflate a child’s self-image. When children are consistently praised without merit, they may struggle to differentiate between genuine accomplishments and false praise. This can lead to a distorted sense of self and hinder their ability to accurately assess their strengths and weaknesses. 

    Authentic praise helps children develop a realistic self-image. By praising children for their actual achievements, parents and educators provide an accurate reflection of their abilities, allowing children to understand their true strengths and areas for growth. This realistic self-perception fosters healthy self-esteem and enables children to make informed decisions regarding their interests, passions, and future pursuits.

    Children need encouragement and acknowledgement of their accomplishments. However, praising children for their actual accomplishments, rather than empty praise, is vital for their overall development. Authentic recognition of their efforts, growth, and achievements cultivates a growth mindset, resilience, intrinsic motivation, and a realistic self-image. By employing genuine praise, we empower children to flourish and reach their full potential.

  • Reading is Essential for Success

    In a world driven by information, where communication and knowledge-sharing are key, the ability to read has become more crucial than ever. For children, learning to read opens a gateway to countless opportunities, shaping their academic, personal, and professional success.

    Reading is the cornerstone of academic achievement. It serves as the foundation for learning across various subjects. Proficient reading skills enable children to comprehend textbooks, decipher complex concepts, and excel on exams. By reading widely, children expand their vocabulary, improve their grammar, and enhance their critical thinking abilities. These skills not only benefit their performance in language arts but also support their overall academic growth, extending to mathematics, science, social studies, and more.

    Learning to read goes hand in hand with developing language and communication skills. Through reading, children encounter new words, sentence structures, and ideas. They learn to decipher meaning, interpret context, and express themselves more effectively. Reading exposes children to different writing styles, perspectives, and cultures, fostering empathy, understanding, and the ability to relate to others. Strong language and communication skills lay the groundwork for effective interpersonal relationships, successful collaborations, and confident self-expression.

    Reading stimulates the imagination and nurtures creativity in children. When engrossed in a book, they enter a world of endless possibilities. Fictional stories ignite their imagination, allowing them to visualize characters, settings, and events. The ability to create mental images and immerse themselves in narratives fosters creative thinking, problem-solving, and innovation. Reading also introduces children to diverse ideas, cultures, and perspectives, broadening their horizons and encouraging them to think beyond their immediate surroundings.

    Books are a gateway to emotional intelligence and empathy. Reading exposes children to a myriad of emotions experienced by characters in stories, helping them understand and relate to different perspectives and experiences. This emotional engagement enhances their empathy, compassion, and interpersonal skills. Through books, children learn to navigate and manage their own emotions, develop resilience, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

    Reading serves as a wellspring of knowledge, offering children access to an immense wealth of information. Whether it’s non-fiction books, magazines, newspapers, or online articles, reading enables children to explore a broad range of subjects. The pursuit of knowledge through reading fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and a thirst for lifelong learning. By continuously expanding their knowledge base, children develop the ability to adapt to new situations, stay informed, and become independent learners throughout their lives.

    Proficient reading skills significantly impact children’s future career prospects. Reading fluency and comprehension are essential in nearly every profession. From understanding technical manuals and research papers to drafting reports and analyzing data, reading is fundamental to professional success. Additionally, reading promotes problem-solving skills, creativity, and adaptability – all valued traits in the modern workplace. The ability to communicate effectively through the written word opens doors to diverse career paths and empowers children to pursue their dreams.

    In this rapidly evolving world, learning to read is indispensable for children’s success. It empowers them with the tools to excel academically, communicate effectively, and navigate the complexities of life. If our children are to have any hope of competing in the global workforce, we must ensure that they become proficient readers. 

  • Teach Children a Healthy Respect for Consequences

    In today’s rapidly changing world, it is crucial for children to develop a healthy respect for consequences. The ability to understand that actions have repercussions is an essential life skill that sets the foundation for responsible decision-making, personal growth, and ethical behavior. By teaching children about consequences from an early age, parents and educators empower them to make informed choices, develop empathy, and navigate the complexities of life.

    One of the fundamental aspects of learning a healthy respect for consequences is developing personal responsibility. When children understand that their actions can have positive or negative outcomes, they become accountable for their behavior. By accepting responsibility for their choices, they learn to think critically before acting and consider the potential consequences of their decisions. This understanding allows children to develop a sense of agency and control over their lives, leading to increased self-confidence and resilience.

    Teaching children about consequences encourages them to consider the ethical implications of their actions. By understanding the potential impact on others, children learn empathy, compassion, and respect for others’ rights and feelings. They begin to grasp the importance of honesty, integrity, and fairness in their interactions with peers and authority figures. This ethical foundation lays the groundwork for children to become responsible citizens who contribute positively to their communities.

    Learning about consequences nurtures critical thinking skills in children. When children are aware of the potential outcomes of their actions, they learn to think analytically and weigh the pros and cons of their choices. They become better equipped to assess risks, evaluate alternatives, and make informed decisions. This ability to think critically not only benefits their immediate decision-making but also prepares them for the challenges they will face as they grow older.

    Understanding consequences helps children develop a long-term perspective and the ability to set goals. When children recognize that their actions have an impact on their future, they are more likely to make choices that align with their aspirations. They learn the value of delayed gratification and develop the patience and persistence necessary to achieve their goals. This mindset sets the stage for success in various aspects of life, from academic pursuits to personal relationships and career endeavors.

    In a world where choices abound and the potential consequences of actions are far-reaching, it is paramount to instill in children a healthy respect for consequences. By fostering personal responsibility, promoting ethical decision-making, developing critical thinking skills, and encouraging long-term goal setting, we equip children with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges and avoid the pitfalls that await. It is our solemn duty to guide children towards a comprehensive understanding of consequences so they can become responsible, compassionate, and successful adults.

  • Failure in Youth Can Lead to Success in Life

    Failure is often seen as a negative outcome, particularly when it involves children. However, shielding kids from failure robs them of valuable opportunities for growth and development.

    Failure is an inherent part of life, and learning to cope with setbacks is crucial for building resilience. When children face failures, they are presented with an opportunity to bounce back, persevere, and develop emotional strength. By allowing them to experience failure, parents and educators can teach children how to face adversity head-on, adapt to challenges, and cultivate a positive mindset. This resilience prepares them for the inevitable obstacles they will encounter throughout their lives.

    Failure provides a fertile ground for learning and growth. When children make mistakes and experience setbacks, they gain firsthand knowledge and valuable insights. By allowing them to reflect on their failures, kids can understand what went wrong and how they can improve. This process of self-reflection fosters critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt strategies. By embracing failure as a learning opportunity, children develop a growth mindset, where challenges are seen as stepping stones to success rather than roadblocks.

    Character development is a lifelong process, and failure plays a pivotal role in shaping one’s character. When children experience failure, they learn about perseverance, determination, and grit. These qualities are cultivated through facing setbacks and working towards improvement. By allowing kids to encounter failure, we equip them with the necessary tools to face adversity with integrity, humility, and a sense of responsibility. This builds their character and molds them into resilient individuals who can navigate life’s challenges with grace.

    Shielding children from failure can create a false sense of reality and inflated self-esteem. When kids are shielded from failures, they may struggle to develop a realistic understanding of their abilities. Experiencing failure provides a healthy dose of reality, allowing children to gauge their strengths and weaknesses accurately. Furthermore, when kids are allowed to fail, they learn that their worth is not solely dependent on their successes but also on their ability to learn, grow, and persevere. This balanced perspective helps them develop a healthy self-esteem that is rooted in resilience and self-acceptance.

    Failure is an inherent part of the creative process. When children are allowed to experiment, take risks, and embrace failure, they become more open to exploring new ideas and solutions. By encouraging them to think outside the box, we foster innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills. When children learn that failure is not the end, but a stepping stone towards success, they become more willing to take calculated risks and think innovatively.

    In a society that often emphasizes success and achievement, it is crucial to recognize the profound value of failure in a child’s development. Allowing kids to experience failure fosters resilience, cultivates a growth mindset, builds character, promotes realistic expectations, and encourages innovation. By reframing failure as an opportunity for growth, we equip children with the skills and mindset necessary to navigate the complexities of life and emerge stronger, more resilient individuals.

  • The Importance of Active Parental Involvement in Elementary Education

    In today’s rapidly changing world, parental involvement in a child’s education plays a pivotal role in their overall development. Elementary education sets the foundation for a child’s academic journey, and parents must actively participate in this crucial phase.

    Research consistently highlights that parental involvement significantly contributes to a child’s academic success. When parents actively participate in their child’s education, they convey the message that learning is important and valued. By creating a supportive and nurturing environment, parents can help their children develop a positive attitude towards learning, which translates into improved academic performance and increased motivation.

    Elementary school is a critical period for developing essential communication skills. When parents engage with their children’s education, they foster open lines of communication. Regular discussions about school, homework, and projects provide opportunities for children to articulate their thoughts and feelings, building their vocabulary, language proficiency, and expressive abilities.

    Active parental involvement creates a strong bond between teachers and parents, leading to more effective collaboration and improved student outcomes. When parents actively participate in school activities, attend parent-teacher conferences, and engage in open dialogue with teachers, they gain valuable insights into their child’s strengths, weaknesses, and overall progress. This partnership enables teachers to tailor their instruction to suit each child’s needs better.

    Parents who actively participate in their children’s education set clear expectations and reinforce discipline and responsibility. Regularly monitoring homework completion, providing structure for study routines, and ensuring attendance promotes a sense of accountability. When children see their parents taking an active interest in their education, they are more likely to take ownership of their academic responsibilities.

    Elementary education is not just about academics; it’s also about fostering social and emotional growth. Parental involvement offers opportunities to teach important life skills, such as empathy, respect, and conflict resolution. By engaging in their children’s school activities and interacting with classmates and teachers, parents help their children develop positive social relationships and emotional intelligence, contributing to their overall well-being.

    For children with special needs, learning differences, or behavior issues, active parental involvement is even more critical. Parents can work closely with educators to develop individualized education plans (IEPs) and ensure their child’s unique needs are met. They can provide valuable insights into their child’s strengths and challenges, collaborate with teachers to implement appropriate interventions, and advocate for necessary support services.

    Parental involvement is key to fostering a lifelong love for learning. When parents engage in activities that promote curiosity, exploration, and discovery, they nurture a growth mindset in their children. Attending museums, reading together, engaging in educational games, and encouraging hobbies and interests outside the classroom all contribute to a holistic approach to education, instilling a passion for lifelong learning.

    By actively participating in their children’s education, parents provide continuity and consistency between home and school environments. This alignment fosters a sense of stability and reinforces the importance of education. Consistent messages about the value of learning, respect for teachers, and dedication to schoolwork create a supportive framework for children to thrive academically and personally.

    Active parental involvement in elementary education is a critical component of a child’s educational journey. It takes a commitment by all involved to ensure that a child has the best opportunity for success, both in their current school year and beyond.

  • The Vital Need for Strong Male Educators in Elementary Schools

    The education system plays a crucial role in shaping the minds of young children, and the presence of diverse role models is essential for their holistic development. While the teaching profession – especially at the elementary level – has traditionally been dominated by women, the need for male educators in elementary schools is becoming increasingly critical.

    The male influence in the lives of children has drastically declined over the past half-century. In the United States, an astounding 23 percent of children are being raised in single parent households, just 17 percent of which are single father households. 

    In order to grow in a healthy, balanced manner, children must have influence from strong adults, both male and female. When the statistics show that 83 percent of children in single parent households are being raised by their mother, that balance must be found at school, with strong male educators. That balance has yet to be found, as only approximately 19 percent of elementary teachers are men.

    Children benefit from exposure to a wide range of role models who can provide different perspectives, experiences, and skills. Introducing male educators into the predominantly female-dominated elementary school environment allows children, both boys and girls, to witness gender diversity. Male teachers serve as valuable examples of successful men in nurturing and caring roles. For far too many children, male teachers are the only men they will encounter during their important developmental years.

    The presence of male educators helps to address gender bias and stereotypes that children may develop at an early age. Male teachers can offer a broader range of perspectives and help foster an environment where all students feel valued and accepted regardless of their gender.

    Strong male educators can contribute significantly to the social and emotional development of students. Boys, in particular, often respond positively to male teachers, feeling more comfortable discussing sensitive topics or seeking guidance. Male educators can provide a safe space for boys to express their emotions and address challenges they may face, promoting healthy emotional development and empathy towards others.

    Studies have shown that having male teachers in elementary schools can positively impact academic performance, especially for boys. Male educators often bring different teaching styles and approaches, which can resonate with students who may not have connected with female teachers as effectively. This diversity in teaching strategies can help engage and motivate students, leading to improved learning outcomes and increased student achievement.

    The inclusion of male educators in elementary schools challenges the long-standing stereotypes that associate teaching primarily with women. By breaking down these stereotypes, more men may be encouraged to consider a career in education, leading to a more diverse teaching workforce. This can help address the current gender imbalance in the profession and offer young boys and girls a wider range of potential career options to aspire to.

    Having male educators in elementary schools can also positively impact parental involvement. Some fathers or male guardians may feel more comfortable engaging with their child’s education when they see male teachers actively participating in the learning process. Male educators can serve as bridges between parents and schools, fostering stronger home-school partnerships and creating a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

    The presence of male educators in elementary schools not only benefits individual students but also contributes to building stronger communities. Children learn from their teachers not only through formal lessons but also through observation and imitation. When young boys and girls witness men actively involved in nurturing, teaching, and caring roles, it helps shape their perceptions of gender roles and contributes to a more egalitarian society.

    The vital need for male educators in elementary schools is evident when considering the broader goal of education, which is to prepare every student to be competitive, emotionally stable, and successful in life. Male teachers serve as valuable role models, not only for boys to be able to see men with values to which they should aspire, but also (perhaps more critically) for girls to see examples of strong men with morals, values, and who – most importantly – treat them with respect.

  • Protect Children from Extreme Stress

    We have a duty to protect children from extreme levels of stress. Stress, once considered a predominantly adult affliction, is increasingly recognized as a significant threat to the well-being and development of kids. The rapid pace of modern life, societal pressures, and academic expectations contribute to a growing epidemic of stress among children. Unless adults take measures to shield kids from stress, the long-term consequences could be catastrophic. 

    Often, adults don’t realize that everything that happens in the vicinity of a child is affecting his or her development. A child’s mind truly is like a sponge, absorbing every piece of data from the outside world. It then files this data away and forms a subconscious judgment about it. 

    Negative events in a child’s life can severely damage the child, even if it is not directly happening to him or her. Arguing is a normal part of any relationship, but when a child sees his or her parents screaming at each other – or worse – it causes tremendous emotional damage. We must always be extremely mindful of how we behave in the presence of children, because we cannot know exactly how each child’s brain will react to what they see us do or hear us say.

    Stress takes a toll on a child’s physical health, manifesting in various ways. Chronic stress disrupts the body’s delicate balance, leading to weakened immune systems, increased susceptibility to illnesses, and delays in physical growth and development. 

    Elevated levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, can cause sleep disturbances, impaired cognitive function, and digestive problems. Moreover, long-term exposure to stress can contribute to the development of chronic conditions like obesity and cardiovascular disorders.

    Prolonged exposure to stress causes an increase of cortisol in the corpus callosum, the bridge that allows the left and right sides of the brain to communicate. This over saturation of cortisol in the corpus callosum can cause the nerves of the corpus callosum to shrink. This severely affects a child’s motor coordination, speech, ability to read and write, and many more vital functions.

    Stress exerts a profound influence on a child’s emotional well-being. This often results in a range of psychological and behavioral challenges. Anxiety and depression are common consequences of excessive stress, causing children to withdraw socially, experience mood swings, and display irritability or aggression. 

    Stress can impair a child’s ability to regulate emotions, leading to emotional outbursts or a general sense of helplessness. In some cases, stress may also contribute to the onset of behavioral disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

    The impact of stress on a child’s cognitive development is substantial. Chronic stress disrupts the intricate neural connections within the brain, particularly in areas responsible for learning and memory. As a result, children exposed to prolonged stress may experience difficulties with concentration, attention, and information processing. 

    Extreme stress impairs executive functions, inhibiting problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, and impulse control. These cognitive impairments can significantly hinder academic performance, leading to a vicious cycle of stress and underachievement.

    Stress can have far-reaching consequences for a child’s social interactions and interpersonal relationships. Children under chronic stress often struggle with low self-esteem, feelings of isolation, and an inability to establish trusting bonds with peers and caregivers. Stress-induced behavioral changes, such as aggression or withdrawal, can further strain relationships and contribute to social exclusion.

    The negative impact of stress on a child’s overall well-being can impede their ability to develop and maintain healthy social connections, leading to long-term difficulties in forming meaningful relationships.

    The dangerous effects of stress on children encompass a wide range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social challenges. Recognizing and addressing the dangerous effect stress has on developing brains of children is paramount to safeguarding the well-being and future of our younger generation. We have a duty to give these children all the tools they will need to succeed in an increasingly complex world. And we must always remember: giving them the tools they need also means not destroying the natural tools with which they are born.

  • Protect Children from the Dangers of Social Media

    We live in the digital age, and social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives. While these platforms offer numerous benefits, they also pose risks, especially for children. It is crucial for parents, caregivers, and educators to take proactive measures to protect children from the potential dangers lurking on social media. 

    Though daunting, there are steps we can take to protect children in the digital world, promoting their safety, well-being, and responsible online behavior.

    In order to face any problem, we must first see it as it is, so before delving into protective measures, it is essential to understand the risks children may face on social media. These risks include cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, online predators, identity theft, and privacy breaches. Being aware of these potential dangers equips parents with the knowledge needed to address them effectively.

    As with almost any other issue parents face, creating an open line of communication with your children is paramount. You can’t solve a problem that you don’t know exists. Encourage them to talk about their online experiences, ask questions, and express concerns without fear of judgment. By fostering a non-judgmental environment, parents can gain valuable insights into their child’s online activities and address any issues promptly.

    It is equally important to educate children about the risks associated with social media, such as the importance of protecting personal information and the potentially permanent consequences of sharing inappropriate content.

    Different social media platforms have age restrictions for a reason. It is crucial to respect these guidelines and enforce age-appropriate boundaries. Young children do not possess the necessary emotional maturity and judgment to navigate the complexities of social media responsibly. 

    Parents should evaluate the suitability of each platform and decide when their child is ready to join, but no elementary-aged child should be on platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram, where there is so much potential for hidden interaction with strangers.

    Any sort of social media presence – especially that of the youth – must be protected from the attention of those who would take a nefarious interest in the user. Social media platforms offer various privacy settings and parental controls designed to enhance safety.

    Parents should familiarize themselves with these features and utilize them effectively. Adjusting privacy settings can limit the visibility of personal information and restrict access to content. Parental control tools enable parents to monitor and filter their child’s online activities, ensuring a safer experience. It is crucial that you become an expert on any social media site your child is on.

    You absolutely must know everything your child is doing on social media. Regularly monitoring children’s online activities is essential for their protection. Keep an eye on the platforms they use, the people they interact with, and the content they consume and share. 

    Although it may be an area of strife, you must maintain password access to their accounts. If they are older, and you wish to grant them more autonomy, then, an agreement that they will log you into their accounts – including their messaging inbox – upon your request, is a possible compromise. This may seem extreme but failing to do so could have tragic consequences. 

    There are sometimes signs to help you know that trouble is brewing. Be aware of any sudden behavioral changes, signs of distress, or unusual online activity that may indicate a problem. 

    Though difficult, it is important, that you try to find a balance between monitoring your child online while at the same time respecting his or her privacy. However, your ultimate goal is to keep them safe, which supersedes their right to privacy, in most instances.

    The best way to protect kids in this world – physical or digital – is to help them learn how to protect themselves. Empowering children with critical thinking skills and digital literacy is key to navigating social media safely. Teach them to question the credibility of online information, recognize manipulative tactics, and distinguish between real and fake profiles. By fostering these skills, children can make informed decisions, avoid falling victim to scams or online grooming, and protect themselves from potential harm.

    Instilling responsible online behavior in children is crucial. Teach them about the importance of treating others with respect, empathy, and kindness. Encourage them to think before they post, avoid engaging in cyberbullying, and report any inappropriate behavior they encounter. By promoting positive digital citizenship, children become active participants in creating a safer online environment for themselves and others.

    The human brain doesn’t fully develop until around the age of 25, and excessive social media use can have detrimental effects on a child’s mental and emotional well-being. Encourage offline activities, limit screen time, and create tech-free zones or times in the household. 

    Be vigilant for signs of cyberbullying or negative impact on self-esteem, and provide emotional support when needed. Promote a healthy balance between the virtual and real world.

    Protecting our children from the dangers of social media requires a relentless and multifaceted approach that encompasses open communication, education, and responsible digital practices. If this seems overwhelming, just remember: when it comes to their children’s safety…a parents don’t get a do-over!

  • Children Need Heroes

    Human beings need role models, mentors, and teachers in order to excel, and children are no different.

    As adults, we have already grown up, so the people to whom we look up can be a bit wild. Celebrities, pro athletes, and fiery politicians enjoy a great deal of attention from adults with whom they resonate. While it’s never healthy to give any human being a place of greater importance and status than ourselves, at least adults do so with a fully developed brain. 

    Children naturally look up to adults and, believe it or not, they would rather look up to someone in their lives, such as their daddy, uncle, or even their teacher. The problem is that many (not all) adults have abdicated that duty. Because of this abdication, children are vulnerable.

    It’s not always a lack of care or selfishness that makes adults pass the buck when it comes to influencing children. It’s not an easy thing to have a little person look up to you and want to be like you. It is a ton of pressure for a person to take on and there’s no real instruction manual. It is understandable why an adult might feel that he can’t handle the task. Understandable…but not excusable!

    We have an evolutionary duty to prepare all children in our lives to grow up, go out and face this world. Without strong, healthy role models, children run the risk of making decisions that will greatly impede their ability to attain success, especially when they hit their teenage years. Difficult though it may be to be a role model, if we care about them, we must step up!

    Children will emulate those whom they find to be strong and capable, and that person should be you! There is no better role model for a child than someone in his own family. Sure, it’s a lot of pressure, but that goes with the territory. And there’s no room for doing it half-way. The scary thing is, you have competition for your child’s attention – vicious, ruthless, and relentless competition!

    Celebrities, athletes, and social media influencers are an incredibly toxic group of people, and they want your child’s attention – because that increases their influence and income. 

    The characters who are famous now – with a few exceptions – are about as low as you can go on the class scale. There is no limit to the depths to which they will sink to get attention. Our children are watching them and, absent any positive influence from us, will believe that is the way to live a successful and worthwhile life. 

    Adults must take responsibility for their children and stop worshiping at the altar of celebrities. Sure, it’s fine to cheer for your favorite athlete, but maintain perspective. It’s just a game, and the person you are putting on a pedestal is unbelievably lucky to have the opportunity to play it. That person does nothing for your child, but you do everything!

    You should always be the “celebrity” in your child’s life. You get them to school so they can receive an education, you take care of them when they are sick, you put food in their bellies and a roof over their heads. They are children, so they don’t always realize it on their own. It is your job to make them understand this by raising them with virtue and values. 

    Teach a child integrity, discipline, and responsibility, and you will have set her up to go out into this big, bad world and dominate! It is not easy, but you can do it. You must do it because, if you don’t…someone else will!

  • Teach Children to Trust their Instincts

    We must ensure that children grow up in such a manner as to trust their instincts. We certainly need to teach them good from bad and right from wrong, but we must also teach them to listen to their own intuitions, especially as they grow older. 

    We teach children that they are to be nice and respectful, and they should – just maybe not to everyone!

    The human brain is a remarkable machine. It quietly works to maintain our bodies’ homeostasis, it allows us to learn things at an incredible rate, and it reacts instantaneously to threats helping us stay safe. It is the last function that matters right now.

    From birth to about the age of 12, the human brain is a sponge, soaking up information it receives from the outside world. The part of the brain responsible for this is the subconscious. The subconscious is infinitely more powerful than the conscious.

    Although it has many duties, the brain’s primary program is to keep a person alive. To accomplish this, it must be able to take in and process every single piece of information it gets from the person’s experiences in life. 

    The brain of a young child – having limited life experience – is on overdrive in this intake and processing of information. Everything they see or hear, be it in person or on television or in music, is going to be filed away and processed as vital data for that child’s survival in the world. 

    As complicated a machine as it is, the brain’s way of processing this massive amount of information is unimpressively simple. The brain takes the stimuli and categorizes it as either “good” or “bad.” Good experiences, such as being fed by a parent, being cuddled, or spoken to in a nurturing manner are categorized as good, while loud noises, scary images, and pain are categorized as bad. 

    This is a vital function of the brain, inherited from our distant ancestors, for whom, a loud noise or scary sight meant a more powerful animal planning to eat them for dinner. It wasn’t until relatively recently – on the evolutionary time scale – that the brain has had time and education to teach it how to be more discerning in its filing system. 

    As late as the 1800’s, a human had to be incredibly alert so as to avoid disaster. We have not had time to outgrow our primal brain. (This is not a bad thing!)

    We like to think of ourselves as civilized, but one session of watching the local news awakens us to the cold reality that the world is as brutal – if not more so – than our ancestors dealt with. While we aren’t as susceptible to minor infections or wild animal attacks, we must be constantly vigilant of our surroundings and weary of strangers. This is not a quality we want to remove from children!  

    Children are especially vulnerable in this modern age and they need their primal defensive brains to help them discern when they may be in danger. We must teach them to listen to their intuition. We must make sure they trust their instincts and that they know, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

    We must also ensure that we are mindful of the manner in which we speak in the presence of children. Their subconscious will take in and file away our every word, even though the child may not even know he is hearing us. Words spoken in anger or overly complaining about the world, politics, or even sports can imbed programming that can cause the child to be overly argumentative, disagreeable, or on the flip side, overly reserved and passive. 

    We can’t predict how an individual child’s subconscious will interpret the stimuli she receives from the world. We see it all the time: negative experiences can cause one child to become strong and resilient, while causing another to withdraw and crumble. 

    It is our evolutionary duty to provide the children in our lives with a stable, nurturing, and disciplined environment. They need love, compassion, and boundaries. This is the time-honored and proven way to best help a child grow up to be a strong, capable adult who can improve the world. 

    The world is not a nice place, and our generation holds more than a small amount of responsibility for that. However, if we do our job right with the next generation…it just might make this world a little nicer!