In general, raising a child is something that any adult and responsible person will be able to do, by monitoring all the child's basic needs, such as food, school attendance, purchasing essential goods, among others. However, educating and raising are very different things and, therefore, it is important to give parents tips and advice so that children grow up healthy and happy.
Psychologist Sónia Sá relies on a study carried out by pediatricians and researchers from Notre Dame University to explain how to raise a child.
The Psychologist states that “To give parents tools to help children grow up healthy and happy, pediatricians and researchers from Notre Dame University began a study on how to educate and the results reveal that the best is the simplest and leads to a return to the origins .”.
Taking this context into account, Psychologist Sónia Sá highlights that “ Emotional development is stimulated by spending time with the child, reading them a book, encouraging their imagination or preparing together the meal that they will enjoy as a family.”, where she also adds that “ Creativity and resilience emerge when the agenda is not too busy.”. We can conclude that, according to the psychologist, “The “dead times” allow us to discover new ways of distracting ourselves. This is also how resourcefulness and independence flourish.”
To answer the question “How to raise a child”, Psychologist Sónia Sá also touches on topics such as physical health and motor development , stating that children “benefit from physical activity, walking outdoors, having contact with nature.” and in the field of food , confirming the importance of a healthy eating routine. Quoting the psychologist, “it is important to have a balanced diet and replace packaged juices with water as it helps with hydration and sugar reduction, improving the body's energy levels and concentration.”
Finally, highlighting that “ Switching off is switching on : The benefits of less time spent on screens exist: the quality of sleep improves and the child's social stimulation increases.”. The psychologist also highlights a characteristic of this study on this point: This is more pertinent because in this study children spent more time interacting with devices than with their parents and there is already concrete data that this type of activity is associated with a poorer mental health and lower levels of happiness and self-esteem.
We highlight this phrase from the psychologist: "A child who spends quality time in relationships feels loved, protected and develops in a positive way.”
In short, in this opinion text by Psychologist Sónia Sá, we can conclude some important points on how to raise a child:
- It is essential to spend time with your child
- Leisure activities with books and without using technology are the most important
- Children’s “dead times” allow them to explore creativity and strengthen resilience
- Outdoor activities and contact with nature are one of the best practices at this stage of development
- Educating your child about healthy eating is an important and important step in your child’s future.
We end with a phrase highlighted by Psychologist Sónia Sá that summarizes and answers the question of “How to raise a Child”:
True connection is established in relationship.
