8 Ideas To Teach Children To Be Wise
In raising our children there are many values that we have to teach them, but teaching children to be prudent is one of those that will help them walk through life sensibly. Prudence is closely related to maturity, reflection, caution, etc. In the following lines we tell you how you can carry it out with your children.
Parents are in charge of instilling in our children values so that they are decisive, generous, kind, assertive, capable of taking care of themselves, respectful … In short, so that they grow up happy and in the future become fully fulfilled adults.
How to teach children to be prudent without inducing fear?
Prudence is understood as the ability that allows us to analyze the consequences that our actions may have on others or on ourselves. Being prudent implies stopping and consciously thinking about how to act in a certain situation, reflect, analyze, know ourselves to act consistently, etc.
According to the psychologist Aldana Sol Grinhauz in her article published in the journal Summa Psicológica , prudence is the temperate consideration of the pros and cons when contemplating a decision.
All parents would like our children to have the prudence necessary to make decisions appropriately, without being afraid. Fear is a primary emotion that, when we feel it, paralyzes us, limits us and does not allow us to advance, but at the same time it is very necessary because sometimes it can be the ones that protect us from some danger.
If we take care of teaching our children to be prudent, they will develop greater autonomy. Prudence is often innately present in children; there are children who are very cautious in themselves and others are more impulsive. There is always a part that can be trained and learned, and that is where parents and teachers can work with children.
Ideas for teaching children to be wise
It is important that we teach children prudence in its proper measure, as an excess can produce fears and many worries, and this is negative for children to have a healthy development. Here are some ideas to teach children to be wise.
Educate by example
This would be the key advice to teach children to be prudent: the example. We cannot ask for caution if we do not have it. They will do what they see in us, not what we tell them to do.
Discuss the consequences of your actions
When the children have made a decision, whether the result is positive or negative, we must assess with them the consequences that that decision has had. The little ones have to learn that all our decisions are going to have an impact, be it good or bad. It is very positive to discuss the decision with them and reflect on what could have happened if their decision had been different.
When we make a decision, we must explain why it was that and not another
When we act with prudence, we must take advantage of it and explain to the children the reason for having made that decision and not another. They have to learn how important it is to analyze a situation in order to make the most appropriate decision.
Read stories or fables that teach the value of prudence
Read stories or fables that give examples of the risks of being reckless and how recklessness can harm others and yourself.
Educate in empathy
Empathy is also a very necessary value to live wisely. If our children learn to put themselves in the place of others, they will always act with others in mind.
Avoid inducing fear in children so that they are prudent
Trying to instill caution in children by frightening them with bad things that can happen to them is not the right thing to do either. It is important that we explain to them that there are situations that can be dangerous if they act impulsively and are not prudent.
Teach them how they can calm down in certain situations that cause them tension
Tools like diaphragmatic breathing should be taught to them when they find themselves in a situation where they have to make a decision quickly. By breathing and calming down, you can avoid getting nervous.
Promote children’s self-knowledge
We can practice with the little ones the knowledge of themselves, what their weaknesses and their strengths are like. In this way, in a given situation, knowing what their strengths and weaknesses are, that is, knowing each other better, will help them make the most appropriate decision.
Regarding teaching children to be cautious …
As you have seen, teaching children to be prudent will help them achieve greater personal fulfillment. Instilling values in children is very important, because this is what will determine that in the future they are good people.
Prudence is one of the values that we sometimes forget, so put it into practice in your day-to-day life to be a better example for your children. In this way, you will get them to be prudent children without becoming fearful.
