Three parenting experts reveal the discussions you need to have with your children to ensure their safety and ability to succeed in life. What we should tell them according to their age.
When it comes to education, everyone sees noon at their door. However, experts are categorical: certain golden rules must be instilled in your children if you want them to grow up with complete peace of mind. Distrust of strangers, subtleties of puberty, the path is strewn with pitfalls. Three professionals have listed the steps to follow, depending on their age, to prepare your children for adult life.
At 5 years old, the basics of safety
Caitlin Slavens, child psychologist and co-founder of Mama Psychologists explains that by age 5, a child should know the basics of safety: “Even when small, he must know his full name, that of his parents, their home address and a telephone number in case of emergency.” And that’s not all, it is also essential to make children, from the age of 5, aware of external dangers. “Teach them that people they know can sometimes be cunning or even deceptive. This includes acquaintances, neighbors and extended family members,” the expert told Newsweek magazine.
By age 5, a child should be able to discern unacceptable behavior, such as not respecting their personal space, their boundaries and asking them to keep a secret by excluding their parents. The psychologist also emphasizes the importance of teaching young children not to approach a body of water without being accompanied by an adult. Not forgetting the ability to cross a street, teach him to look both ways and wait for the traffic lights to allow him to continue on his way. Last thing, Caitlin Slavens says that 5-year-olds need to be encouraged to name their emotions and express them correctly. This skill helps develop their empathy and communication skills.
At 10 years old, talk to them about puberty and the limits of the internet
Parenting expert Lisa Pion-Berlin emphasizes the importance of children this age understanding the physical and psychological changes of puberty. “Children change physically and psychologically and they need to be aware of what is happening to their bodies.”, she said. Mobile phone use must also be subject to strict rules. “The longer you can delay getting a phone, the better. Once they have a cell phone, they need to know that not everyone tells the truth on the Internet,” she explains. This is why it is necessary to enable parental controls and establish usage limits.
At 10 years old, too, your child must be made aware of exchanges with strangers. It is necessary to teach them not to open the door to a stranger, even at home.
At 15, teach them to become responsible and independent
Hannah Keeley, a certified life coach trained in behavioral therapy, advises, this time, to teach teenagers to interact with adults they don’t know. Indeed, they are better able to discern malicious people. This involves asking a police officer for directions or asking a librarian for advice, for example.
Hannah Keeley also advocates encouraging teenagers to get up on their own, without help from their parents. “It’s time to stop waking them up in the morning. They need to learn to be responsible”, she explains. Household chores and money management are all necessary elements to manage on a daily basis.
Finally, the expert advises creating content on social networks rather than consuming it. “Motivate them to put more energy into creating content rather than chasing entertainment, but set rules like no phones in bed,” she advises. A program that will pay off!