Sometimes I wonder if a child can go through today’s world without suffering from some sort of mental illness.
Reason abounds for this claim. I once listened to a preacher, Billy Graham, say in one of his sermons in 1985 that research showed that children in the US watch an average of about 15,000 murder scenes on TV before the age of 17. You can guess what they discuss in school while hanging out with friends.
I remember a caregiver lamenting that the seven-year-old boy he took care of did nothing but play video games. Not only was the playing a problem, but you might be interested to know what type of video games he loved playing. Police hunting: shooting and killing police officers. What type of a person do you think kids such as this one would grow up to become? Should we expect he will grow up to see these law enforcement agents as friends? The answer is boldly written in the blue sky.
Most of the troubles our children struggle with emanate from the home because whatever they see dad and mum allow, they see as approved behaviour. For example, seeing people in the street smoking doesn’t necessarily make smoking acceptable to them, I am not saying it cannot happen. They will ask questions; they might engage in that habit in secret, but the moment dad or mum engage in that same habit, they take that for an acceptable way of living.
The onus is on us, the adults, to guild these little jewels on the path they should tread so that they don’t grow up to become the nightmare that stunts us in the quiet of the night. Not every program on TV is right for them, nor must it be watched all day. Not any type of video game must be bought for them. Not all of our own habits, even though convenient for us the parents, should be encouraged.
Many times we may have to give up some habits if we hope to inculcate the right attitude in these little ones. How can we lead them on a path we have not trod? Children are innocent beings who watch and study us to learn good from wrong, and therefore, we must make a conscious effort to lead the life we want them to watch and emulate.
Apart from being their parents, we must make them friends because there are many kids that are not friends with their parents. That does not necessarily take away the power to institute disciple from the parents, rather it makes children see them as the first port of call in events of uncertainties.
I have known children who discuss every detail of their lives with their parents. By this, I mean their good deeds as well as their mistakes. A lot of them hide things from their parents. Who then would they discuss that with? Probably the friends in school who, in most cases, are in no position to give them good advice.
They should feel safe to discuss everything with us, sex, drugs, etc., that way we can guide them on the right path. Despite all that has been said, being a parent is often a rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging.
The primary concern of parents is their child’s health and well-being. To help your child thrive and succeed in life, you need to understand their personality traits, lifelong struggles with mental health conditions, and social/emotional abilities. A child’s developmental experiences are influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics and their environment.
Many children acquire their own set of coping mechanisms at a fairly early age, but their reactions and emotions can vary. However, some of these reactions might signal that the child may be struggling with mental health issues, such as behavioral problems or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
First, in order to recognize the early warning signs, parents must be knowledgeable about their children’s mental health state. It is important to know the child well enough to spot symptoms that may be present. Having the knowledge of what role you can play to help keep them healthy and happy is important.
Second, educating kids about these conditions will encourage them to seek help without hesitation and increase their awareness of their own mental health.
But the problem is most children are unwilling to listen to our advice. As parents, we want our children to be happy and well-adjusted. But sometimes we don’t know how to reach these goals. And this is where things become more difficult.
Stories can be an excellent way to introduce new concepts into a child’s vocabulary. They are powerful tools for communication. Children are naturally curious and eager to read or listen to stories. They teach kids new concepts, reinforce words and phrases, and create a sense of adventure. With good stories, children become more open-minded and receptive to new information.
I created three story books as tools to address some of the challenges already mentioned above. These stories are engaging, funny, and educational.
It is a fun way to engage kids and discuss sensitive issues together. They offer a light-hearted way to discuss children’s mental health issues and the emotions they experience. They can be understood by children above seven years or younger if read to them by parents or caregivers.
These storybooks will educate and raise awareness on the following:
- Dealing with stress and depression
- Innovative problem-solving;
- Positive thinking, with emphasis on the significance of being kind, respectful, and helpful;
- The importance of self-care;
- The importance of family bonding;
- Overcoming video game addiction;
- The significance of physical activities, and;
- Increasing self-esteem.
These books will be available on Amazon this spring, with a book launch and signing event on March 4, 2023 at the Tumbler Ridge Library. Visit www.mycutestories.com for more info.
