What is Needed to Help Your Child Grow Mentally & Emotionally

As a recent Psychology graduate, I have had the pleasure of studying old and new results of research done with parenting and kids. I have been highly interested in this subject since being a little girl. I grew up trying to be a teacher as well as understand what makes people live a certain way, do a certain thing, or build a particular character.

In growing up, I had the pleasure of having 5 other siblings to interact with, of them all I was the baby. My sisters and brothers were all different in character, things they did, and the way it was done. Because my mother was an outstanding woman, we all turned out well.

I believe that the most important years of a child's' life is from 0 to 13 years of age. Children are our greatest future assets. When u don't invest in them with time, love and care, then u have ruined the opportunity of a lifetime. We have had over the years, young teenagers make kids when they are obviously still kids themselves. That is mistake number 1. I will not point any fingers because the proof is in the pudding. Parents it falls on us. Our young men and women depend on us to help them think even when they are verbally telling us to go away. As parents being your child's friend is okay but don't become their buddy; yes there is a difference.

To give examples: being your child's friend means you will encourage them to be an individual, think for themselves, and independently be self sufficient as well as teaching them the awareness of being able to identify true love in a friend. In being a friend to anyone, you encourage them and give positive push as well as honest feedback. A true friend will let you know what you are doing right or wrong. In the opposite; a buddy will be a participant of your wrong or right doing but never really tell you the difference of the two.

When kids come out of the womb, it is vital to make sure their up-bringing is one they will never forget. From an emotional and mental stand point both parents being in a child's' life is very important. A young women needs her father and a young man needs his mother. Let me explain a little deeper: Many men who grow up with just their mother and depending on that mothers mind frame, it will cause him to be one of many: mixed feelings on how to love a woman, interested in women who they can control, extra sensitive and clingy, hateful towards women, or extra dependent upon a women.

I have had the experience of knowing many different men and from them all I have gotten many stories: my mom didn't talk to me, my mom use to beat me alot, taking her frustration of my father leaving her out on me, my mother was on crack and I grew up all by myself, I had to be the man in my house even though I was young. In the same sense a women who grows up with just her father could experience the same or better yet even worse results. Women alot of times will grow up if a father is not around; constantly looking for love, constantly in and out of relationships, getting in relationships with an abusive and controlling man and women can sometimes grow up to hate the sight of a man.

Now that we know what can happen with the lack of good parenting from an emotional and mental level, we need to find ways to fix it. Here are a few steps:
1.Make sure to be an active listener.
2. Make sure to set a good example of living.
3. Ensure you are a good critic.
4.Have an open door policy