Celebrate your Child's Uniqueness

Just like a snowflake or a fingerprint, every child is unique in their own special way. Every child has a unique way of feeling, thinking, and interacting with others.

Some children are shy, while others are outgoing; some are active, while others are calm; some are fretful, while others are easy-going.

As a loving and nurturing parent, it's has now become our job, or perhaps our opportunity to encourage and help them to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate their individual qualities. 

Allow your child to express themselves through their interests.  They may find a creative outlet in theatre, dancing or art, or they may be exceptionally talented in the sciences. For all you know they may be extremely gifted in ice skating or writing or tennis.  The point is that it really doesn't matter what they are interested in as long as you show your support to them.

Children want their parents to be proud of them. It is something that they want and need, as much as we needed when we were growing up! To know that the father and/or mother are proud of them. It is a sign of accomplishment and praise. This is un-touchable for them, as children. It is our job as parents to acknowledge and provide this feeling because it helps them grow.

Encourage them to embrace what they like to do. What interests them and what makes them happy. Help them realize that they don't need to worry about being 'liked by everyone else' and be happy! Being happy, well that is truly the bottom line.

Teach your child to make positive choices, and praise them for good deeds, behaviors and positive traits they possess.  Help them to become actively involved in clubs, groups or in the community and help introduce them to activities that promote a sense of cooperation and accomplishment. 

Accept and celebrate your child's uniqueness. Remember that your child is an individual. They are after all, just one of a kind. Allow your child to have his or her own personal preferences and feelings, which may be different from your own.

Finally, encourage your child to be true to themselves by engaging and doing the same.  Show your child how to make positive choices with the choices you make, and that nobody is perfect and this would be including yourself too! We all will make mistakes. 

Show your child that mistakes can be a great learning experience and that they should not be ashamed or embarrassed about making them. It does happen to all of us, small or big!

It will help them grow and become a better person, not just in others eyes, but mostly their own.