Ever wondered how to nurture personality development traits in kids? Here are some actionable tips to help create a future full of confidence and strength for your child.
Picture this: In a room full of babies, one baby begins to cry. And then, before you know it, the others are bawling too. This is one of the earliest signs of empathy and a trait of positive personality development.
Empathy is one pillar in positive child personality development. The others are confidence, love for learning, creativity, resilience, and assertiveness. Positive personality development is essential for your child to be a better version of themselves and get along with others. Although these traits are inherent, they can get lost, depending on what your child experiences out in the real world. As a result, you need to ensure that your child leans into their most positive traits. Personality development in childhood is fairly easy to achieve if you’re watching for the right signals and making the right parental moves.
Here’s a list of personality development tips that can help you shape your children to be happy, thriving individuals.
How to Develop Personality in Your Child
Push your children to explore
Do you ever give thought to what your child loves to do for fun? Dive into it. Maybe they want to explore some books or a new series on Netflix. Join your child for a cartoon marathon. Find out what they find interesting about the characters. Maybe they are intrigued by a dance form, or some type of art, or a sport, or martial arts or some natural wonder like caves or waterfalls. Ask them if they’d like to experience any of these in real life. If you’re wondering how to build a strong personality in your child, this is an easy place to start.
Help them to forge friendships
Playtime and group activities come packed with many lessons on how to chat, listen and bond with other kids. It's like preparing them for all the friendships and team projects that they will experience in the long run.
Organise regular playdates or group activities for your child. Rotate the themes – from team sports to board games, DIY craft sessions and both indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Personality development games for children include jigsaw and other types of puzzles, and as they grow older, they could try out crosswords. There’s no harm in them doing these with their friends.
Cultivate strength in your children
Teach your child to pick themselves up after a fall, both literally and figuratively. Give them advice on making up after a fight, showing up after something embarrassing has happened, and trying hard once again after they have failed.
Here’s another angle on building resilience: Have you ever let your kid tackle a problem head-on? Yes, you may get a little protective of their decision (because, of course, you don’t want them to get hurt or suffer). But use this opportunity to let them experience the consequences of their actions.
A tip? Next time they're in a pickle, ask them, "What do you think you should do?" Encourage their thought process and decision-making.
Encourage your child's resourcefulness
You gave your child those building blocks and puzzles, thinking they were just toys. But do you know they are the first steps into creativity? They lay a foundation for your child’s problem-solving skills and inspire innovation.
Here's something to consider: Next time, join them in their play. Ask open-ended questions about their creations, challenge them with new building scenarios, or introduce more complex puzzles over time. You’ll see it’s truly a wonder how young minds transform simple games into boundless possibilities!
Enable your child's creativity
Art is like a window into your child’s imagination. It is one of the best personal development activities for children, and its easy to set up. Carve out a mini art corner at home or encourage them to sketch during park visits. If they really enjoy it, ask them if they would like to join an art class.
Balance your children's assertiveness
You’re right to raise your child to give respect where it is due and to listen to you when you’re trying to protect them. However, you don’t want to stifle their voices and set them up to not know how to draw boundaries as grown-ups. You need to be mindful in order to help your child to achieve this, find a balance between assertiveness and bossiness, aggressiveness and disobedience. Try this: Engage in role-play scenarios and mock debates.
Easy Do's and Don'ts: Build Positive Traits in Your Child
Here are some personality development tips to help you with personality development for kids:
DO’s: Give positive attention to your child
- Show love and care: Showering your child with genuine affection and unconditional love goes a long way. Hug them regularly, and take time to listen to how their day went. Make sure to laugh with your children.
- Praise good acts: It is easy to react when a kid acts out, but what if you try a different method? Focus on and reinforce positive behaviour. A simple ‘I noticed you cleaned your room without me asking, that is very responsible!’ can work wonders.
- Boost mental well-being: Build a happy home and a safe environment for your children. Even if you and your spouse or other family members have disagreements around the house, find a way to talk without your children being witnesses. Be mindful of how you interact with your child after a hard day of work or when you’re not feeling your best. Consider your child’s struggles, and offer support, even if their difficulties seem petty or even funny to you.
DON'Ts: Negative Language and Labelling
- Avoid negative words: Choose the words you use with your children wisely, even in negative situations. Say, “You can do this” and “I trust you will make the right decision”
- Avoid labelling: Don't label your child's identity with phrases like ‘You are a liar!’, instead, address their behaviour by saying something like ‘It’s not nice to lie’.
Pro Tip -
You know how kids are glued to their favourite cartoons, TV shows, or books?
Well, those characters can be more than just entertainment; they can be role models for your child. Imagine telling your little one, 'What would Super Explorer Kabir do?' and watching them make the right choice!
Conclusion
Positive personality development is crucial to helping your child become the best version of themselves. You can achieve this by being a good role model, building a loving home, and turning their favourite fictional characters into lessons.
Want to get a deeper understanding of your child’s inherent personality traits? Genleap’s personality testing can help uncover these by combining DNA tests, astromancy and psychometrics that reveal your child’s inherent traits. Try it today to enable your child’s development and long-term success.
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