THIS is how you raise a fierce child
Bravery is not just about plunging down a slide or scaling a climbing wall: it’s about having the courage and confidence to do what’s right, stand up to bullies and naysayers, and be a fearless believer in oneself. These tips on raising a brave kid will help you instill courage and healthy risk-taking in your kids. And maybe even remind them that they shouldn’t apologize when there’s no need to.
[rt_slide body=”%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E1.%20Make%20courage%20part%20of%20the%20conversation.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EWe%20tell%20our%20kids%20they%20are%20brave%20when%20they%20brush%20themselves%20off%20after%20falling%20or%20finish%20that%20swim%20lesson%20they%E2%80%99ve%20been%20dreading.%20But%20do%20we%20teach%20them%20what%20it%20all%20means%3F%20Laura%20Markham%2C%20the%20parenting%20expert%20(and%20a%20true%20toddler%20whisperer%2C%20we%20swear)%2C%20has%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ahaparenting.com%2FDefault.aspx%3FPageID%3D7652548%26amp%3BA%3DSearchResult%26amp%3BSearchID%3D11130896%26amp%3BObjectID%3D7652548%26amp%3BObjectType%3D1%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22nofollow%20noopener%22%3Ea%20great%20definition%20on%20her%20site%2C%20Aha!%20Parenting%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20which%20is%20packed%20with%20resources%20for%20every%20age%20and%20stage.%20%E2%80%9CCourage%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20mean%20not%20being%20afraid.%20In%20fact%2C%20in%20many%20situations%20that%20might%20qualify%20as%20stupidity.%20Courage%20means%20being%20afraid%20and%20doing%20the%20right%20thing%20anyway.%E2%80%9D%20Like%20when%20we%20talk%20about%20being%20brave%20enough%20to%20admit%20to%20wrongdoing%20despite%20fearing%20the%20consequences.%20So%20get%20a%20conversation%20going%20with%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2F20-questions-to-ask-at-the-dinner-table%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Edinnertime%20question%3C%2Fa%3E%20for%20all%20to%20answer%3A%20%3Cem%3EWhat%20did%20you%20do%20today%20that%20was%20brave%3F%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2.%20Let%20them%20express%20themselves%E2%80%94fearlessly.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EHow%20wonderful%20that%20%E2%80%9Cyou%20do%20you%E2%80%9D%20is%20a%20saying%20these%20days.%20It%E2%80%99s%20a%20great%20one%20to%20give%20your%20kids%2C%20whether%20that%20means%20they%20dress%20themselves%20for%20school%20picture%20day%20or%20they%20get%20the%20haircut%20they%20want.%20These%20may%20seem%20like%20trivial%20things%2C%20but%20the%20more%20you%20allow%20your%20kids%20to%20be%20who%20they%20are%20(without%20fear%20of%20criticism%20for%20it)%2C%20the%20more%20they%20get%20to%20know%20that%20incredible%20feeling%20of%20just%20being%20themselves.%20Teacher%2C%20life%20coach%20and%20mentor%20Lindsay%20Sealey%2C%20author%20of%20%3Cem%3EGrowing%20Strong%20Girls%3A%20Practical%20Tools%20to%20Cultivate%20Connection%20in%20the%20Preteen%20Years%3C%2Fem%3E%2C%20identifies%20connection%20as%20the%20foundation%20of%20strength%20and%20includes%20being%20%E2%80%9Ccurious%20instead%20of%20critical%E2%80%9D%20in%20her%20four%20tips%20for%20cultivating%20connection.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2Fthis-is-the-one-thing-you-need-to-do-to-raise-strong-girls%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3ERead%20more%20about%20them%20all%3C%2Fa%3E.%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E3.%20Recognize%20risk-taking%20heroes.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EAfter%20figure%20skater%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Flifestyle%2Folympian-adam-rippon-coming-major-skating-competition-felt-power-going-140007813.html%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22nofollow%20noopener%22%3EAdam%20Rippon%3C%2Fa%3E%20courageously%20told%20the%20world%20exactly%20who%20he%20is%2C%20he%20became%20the%20first%20openly%20gay%20male%20athlete%20to%20win%20an%20Olympic%20medal%20for%20the%20U.S.%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2Fwomen-scientists-to-teach-your-kids-about%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EMarie%20Curie%3C%2Fa%3E%20challenged%20the%20established%20science%20industry%20and%20discovered%20radioactivity.%20By%20exposing%20kids%20to%20risk-takers%20who%20rock%2C%20you%20can%20provide%20admirable%20role%20models%20and%20expand%20their%20understanding%20of%20healthy%20risk-taking%20(We%20aren%E2%80%99t%20talking%20about%20any%20kind%20of%20risk%20that%20hurts%20oneself%20or%20others.).%20And%20it%E2%80%99s%20never%20too%20early%20to%20start%20teaching%20kids%20about%20the%20heroes%20and%20heroines%20who%20came%20before%E2%80%94listen%20to%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2Fviral-video-toddler-black-history-month%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Ethis%20two-year-old%20recites%20the%20names%20of%20historical%20African-American%20leaders%3C%2Fa%3E.%3C%2Fp%3E” /]
[rt_slide image=”1958181″ caption=”iStock%20″ body=”%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E4.%20Read%20books%20about%20courage.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EWe%20read%20them%20books%20about%20using%20the%20potty%2C%20preparing%20for%20a%20sibling%2C%20and%20every%20other%20major%20transition%20of%20childhood.%20Courage%20should%20also%20be%20on%20their%20reading%20list%2C%20and%20a%20good%20start%20is%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fshop.thislittlestreet.com%2Fcollections%2Flily-huckleberry%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3E%3Cem%3EThe%20Adventures%20of%20Lily%20Huckleberry%3C%2Fem%3E%20%3Cem%3Ein%20Scandinavia.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%20%E2%80%9CWe%20want%20Lily%E2%80%99s%20stories%20to%20give%20children%20a%20love%20for%20trying%20new%20things%20and%20teach%20them%20that%20it%20is%20ok%20to%20take%20risks%E2%80%94that%20the%20best%20adventures%20in%20life%20often%20come%20from%20being%20courageous%20enough%20to%20do%20things%20that%20felt%20a%20little%20scary%20in%20the%20first%20place.%E2%80%9D%20co-author%20Audrey%20Smit%20says.%20For%20more%20reading%20inspiration%2C%20check%20out%20our%20list%20of%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2Fkids-books-about-being-confident%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Ebooks%20about%20being%20confident%3C%2Fa%3E.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E5.%20Model%20bravery.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EDid%20you%20just%20nail%20a%20big%20presentation%20at%20work%3F%20It%20was%20scary%2C%20right%3F%20Tell%20your%20kids%20all%20about%20it!%20It%E2%80%99s%20helpful%20for%20them%20to%20know%20about%20times%20their%20parents%20were%20scared%20and%20followed%20through%20anyway.%20And%20if%20you%20missed%20the%20mark%2C%20share%20that%20story%20too%2C%20so%20they%20also%20learn%20how%20to%20cope%20and%20hopefully%20try%20again.%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E6.%20Question%20the%20narratives.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EWhen%20it%20comes%20to%20movies%2C%20thankfully%2C%20we%20now%20have%20complex%20and%20diverse%20heroines%20and%20heroes%20to%20show%20our%20daughters%20and%20sons%20(thank%20you%2C%20Raya%2C%20Moana%2C%20and%20Miguel).%20But%20even%20in%202021%2C%20cultural%20messages%20abound%20about%20what%20girls%20%3Cem%3Eshould%3C%2Fem%3E%20be%2C%20and%20how%20boys%20%3Cem%3Eshould%3C%2Fem%3E%20act.%20No%20one%20knows%20this%20better%20than%20Jennifer%20Siebel%20Newsom%2C%20Founder%20and%20CEO%20of%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Ftherepresentationproject.org%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EThe%20Representation%20Project%3C%2Fa%3E%20and%20mom%20of%20four.%20Two%20of%20her%20documentaries%2C%20%3Cem%3EMiss%20Representation%3C%2Fem%3E%20and%20%3Cem%3EThe%20Mask%20You%20Live%20In%3C%2Fem%3E%20should%20be%20required%20watching%20for%20parents.%20Each%20looks%20at%20just%20how%20entrenched%20these%20gender%20stereotypes%20are%20and%20how%20they%20inhibit%20things%20like%20the%20courage%20to%20be%20who%20we%20are%E2%80%94inspiring%20all%20of%20us%20to%20work%20harder%20to%20break%20free%20of%20them.%3C%2Fp%3E” /]
[rt_slide image=”2143509″ caption=”iStock%20″ body=”%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.%20Teach%20tools%20to%20take%20a%20stand.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EIt%E2%80%99s%20hard%20to%20make%20it%20through%20childhood%20without%20being%20impacted%20by%20bullying%E2%80%94now%20more%20than%20ever%20with%20the%20advent%20of%20social%20media%20and%20opportunities%20for%20cyberbullying.%20We%20weighed%20in%20with%20experts%20Lauren%20Paul%20and%20Molly%20Thompson%2C%20the%20co-founders%20of%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kindcampaign.com%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EKind%20Campaign%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20a%20nonprofit%20that%20aims%20to%20prevent%20and%20treat%20girl-against-girl%20bullying%20with%20viewings%20of%20their%20documentary%2C%20%3Cem%3EFinding%20Kind%3C%2Fem%3E%2C%20and%20nationwide%20school%20assemblies%20that%20help%20kids%20connect%2C%20converse%2C%20apologize%2C%20and%20pledge%20kindness.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20will%20often%20see%20this%20respect%20and%20courage%20strengthen%20kids%E2%80%99%20ability%20to%20speak%20up%20and%20act%20with%20conviction%20in%20other%20areas%20of%20their%20lives%20now%20and%20in%20the%20future%2C%E2%80%9D%20Paul%20says.%20%E2%80%9CFor%20any%20child%20that%20is%20experiencing%20bullying%2C%20our%20advice%20to%20parents%20is%20to%20share%20their%20own%20past%20experiences%20with%20bullying%20and%20let%20their%20child%20know%20that%20they%20are%20not%20alone%20in%20this%20journey.%E2%80%9D%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E8.%20Let%20them%20try%20(and%20fail)%20and%20try%20again.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EIf%20%E2%80%9CI%20do%20it!%E2%80%9D%20was%20your%20child%E2%80%99s%20first%20three-word%20sentence%2C%20then%20you%20know%20exactly%20what%20we%E2%80%99re%20talking%20about.%20While%20you%20rarely%20have%20all%20the%20time%20in%20the%20world%20for%20your%20independent%20kiddo%20to%20get%20into%20the%20car%20seat%2C%20tie%20shoes%20or%20spill%20the%20open%20cup%20(again)%2C%20summon%20a%20little%20extra%20patience%20during%20these%20moments%20and%20resist%20the%20urge%20to%20step%20in%20and%20%E2%80%9Chelp.%E2%80%9D%20When%20they%20look%20up%20and%20confidently%20exclaim%2C%20%E2%80%9CI%20did%20it!%E2%80%9D%20they%20are%20learning%20much%20more%20than%20the%20task%20at%20hand%E2%80%94they%20are%20building%20a%20belief%20in%20themselves%20that%20will%20carry%20over%20when%20it%20is%20time%20to%20make%20riskier%20moves%2C%20like%20raising%20their%20hands%20in%20class%20or%20running%20for%20office.%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Ftinybeans.com%2Fbooks-that-teach-kids-compassion-and-social-change%2F%22%3E%3Cem%3E%3Cstrong%3ERelated%3A%2011%20Books%20That%20Will%20Make%20Your%20Kids%20Better%20People%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E9.%20Play%20act%20at%20overcoming%20fears.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cem%3EWhen%20we%20do%20something%20new%2C%20let%E2%80%99s%20talk%20about%20what%20we%E2%80%99ll%20do.%20T%3C%2Fem%3Ery%20and%20convince%20us%20those%20Daniel%20Tiger%20songs%20don’t%20still%20come%20in%20handy!%20Now%2C%20there%E2%80%99s%20also%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fmightier.com%2F%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EMightier%3C%2Fa%3E%20and%20its%20bioresponsive%20video%20games%20that%20use%20a%20heart%20rate%20monitor%20to%20help%20kids%20learn%20emotional%20control%20as%20they%20play%2C%20leading%20to%20greater%20success%20at%20the%20game.%20%E2%80%9CThe%20same%20brain%20circuitry%20that%20gets%20used%20in%20the%20games%20gets%20used%20when%20you%E2%80%99re%20facing%20something%20scary%20or%20hard%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Dr.%20Jason%20Kahn%2C%20Mightier%E2%80%99s%20Chief%20Scientific%20Officer.%20Mightier%20was%20developed%20at%20Boston%20Children%E2%80%99s%20Hospital%20and%20Harvard%20Medical%20School%2C%20so%20parents%20can%20feel%20good%20about%20this%20screen%20time%20and%20the%20strategies%20it%20can%20help%20instill.%3C%2Fp%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E10.%20Remind%20them%20you%20needn’t%20be%20big%20to%20be%20brave.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3EWhether%20it%E2%80%99s%20blowing%20their%20minds%20with%20the%20knowledge%20that%20an%20ant%20can%20carry%205%2C000%20times%20its%20body%20weight%20or%20inspiring%20them%20with%20stories%20of%20other%20kids%20braving%20the%20odds%20to%20do%20amazing%20things%2C%20show%20them%20that%20small%20is%20strong%20and%20capable.%20Doing%20so%20will%20also%20serve%20as%20an%20empathetic%20reminder%20to%20you%20that%20the%20world%20is%20big%20for%20a%20little%20kid.%20Take%20that%20extra%20moment%20to%20look%20at%20things%20from%20their%20level%20as%20they%20take%20those%20courageous%20steps%20that%20will%20lead%20to%E2%80%94and%20reveal%E2%80%94their%20best%20selves.%3C%2Fp%3E” /]
