SELF-EXPRESSION — YOUR CHILD IS WAITING TO BE HEARD
Expression, a window to our inner self. Something which makes us feel electrified and free the moment we think about it. Something which is an indispensable part of our life and yet we sometimes fail to acknowledge its importance in our journey. It may come naturally to an individual to weave a brief description of what expression means to him/her but seldom does one realize the potential it holds in shaping our identity.
WHY DIG DEEPER? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR MY KID?
Self-expression is simply a communication of our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or impulses through any medium, be it verbal, visual, or literary, depending upon the style, preference, and quirks of the person. This all begins way too early in our life than anticipated and this is where we let it slide. It’s in those early years of baby steps that our personality, knowledge of the world, our own sense of self, exploration of our feelings and self-confidence sprouts. This is what sets the tone for our entire life and together these aspects assemble a strong foundation for our social, moral, creative, emotional as well as physical development.
Self-expression is the channel that drives all these mechanisms within us. That being said, this piece will allow the readers to explore various pathways to connect better with their little ones and provide them with a safe environment to avail this powerful tool of self-expression.
HOW CAN I HELP? PROMOTING SELF-EXPRESSION
Taking from what was mentioned earlier, I assume we have got an idea about the fundamental role of expression in the primary years. Now moving on to the obvious question — What can a parent do to mentor and facilitate self-expression in their children?
It’s imperative to provide a safe environment to the child, surround them with love, compassion, and respect and allow them a free channel. This initiates a relationship where vulnerability and fear are tossed out of the window and they make efforts to communicate their real selves. To make it accessible, let’s steer through certain pointers.
- The Role Model way — Identify the feelings
It’s quite easy to comprehend that children grasp and learn a lot from observing their surroundings. How they see their caregivers engage in social set-ups and handle their own feelings, the communication in the household, and most importantly how parents express their own feelings to the child, helps him/her understand the emotions physically and allows them to explore the communication channels.
2. Allow room for exploration — Hold your helicopter self back
The concern you have for your child is understandable but it should in no way limit their playground of exploration. Be it choosing out their own outfits or area of interest hovering around robotics or ballet. Let them follow their curiosity and be inquisitive about objects, topics or scenarios. A guided sense of autonomy plays a massive role in learning and behavior throughout life.
3. The Movement within — Creative friend speaks
Creativity surfaces in its own unique way in each one of us. Lucky for us, self-expression is not confined to verbal transactions. The artistic route enables the little ones to safely experiment by weaving stories, using metaphors to express feelings, creating characters and reflecting. It is integral on the part of the parents to encourage the child for their efforts rather than criticizing them. This acts as a rewarding pathway for further exploration.
4. Play — The business of children
More often than not, competition steals this treasure away from children. Cooperation, relationship skills and even respecting others’ points of view take their shapes from various playful engagements. The child even engages in playful situations individually, constructing creative scenarios and solving hypothetical problems.
5. Healthy path to modification
Self-expression can take various forms in children. Many a time they might opt for an inappropriate path. The parenting style you incorporate here matters a lot. Punishing the child or even using silent treatment will do more harm than good. Leading with empathy and connection will open up room for discussion. Discuss their mistakes as a friend rather than a critique (relating more than teaching) and help the child understand what alternatives could be there and what is the harm behind using the negative form of expression.
These channels can seem daunting but they are in fact a natural part of a child’s day-to-day life. All one needs to do is hold their hands and encourage them to take those initial steps. Don’t worry if you slip at times. A parent and child, both are learning. A small effort on your part will help your children grow into healthy and happy individuals, with a strong sense of self-esteem, independence, and well-being. And you are not just helping your children but also extending a safe environment for the many individuals they will meet throughout their lives. You’ve got this!
