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What’s the best way to get your child to do something? Ask them. If that doesn’t work, try asking again and again and again.
Eventually, they will probably surrender because they just want to go play video games in their room. It works like a charm!
The same thing can be said for raising children who are different from you. In fact, it is especially true for raising children who are very different from you—whether it’s being LGBTQ+ or living with a disability or just not having any interest in sports (or maybe all three).
Being interested in your child’s differences is the first step toward encouraging them and celebrating those differences as a family unit rather than focusing on what makes them different from everyone else.
Being interested in them is the best way to start
If you want to encourage your child’s uniqueness, the best thing you can do is show interest in them.
Asking questions not only encourages conversation, it also helps us learn about others—and that goes for children just as much as adults. For example, if your child says they’re interested in learning how to play the piano, ask them: “What do you think?” or “What would be hard about learning how to play the piano?”
Asking them these kinds of questions will get them thinking about what it means for them personally. In this way, asking questions is a great way of encouraging and celebrating our children’s uniqueness!
Use positive reinforcement
One of the best ways to encourage your child’s uniqueness is by using positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is any type of reward or praise that your child receives from you when they do something that you want them to repeat, like sharing their toy with another child or not throwing a tantrum in the grocery store.
Positive reinforcement can help your children feel accepted and encourage them to continue doing what makes them happy, healthy and successful.
Here are some ways you can use positive reinforcement with your child:
Be accepting of their differences
Acceptance is a key part of the process. The more you can accept your child’s differences and celebrate them, the better.
Here are some examples of differences that are celebrated:
- Having curly hair instead of straight
- Wearing glasses
- Being left-handed
Allow them to express themselves creatively
One of the most important things you can do for your child, whether they are young or older, is to let them express themselves creatively.
It’s a good idea to encourage them to be creative in whatever ways they want. Encourage them to use their imagination and create something that represents who they are. You might even want to help them out by buying some art supplies or musical instruments if they have an interest in those things!
Creativity doesn’t always have to involve drawing pictures or playing music; it could also include dancing or making crafts with things around the house (like glue sticks).
Help them see the value in being different
As you and your child begin to talk about their differences, it’s important to help them see the value in being different.
You can do this by pointing out famous people who have had similar experiences or challenges, like Michael Jackson or Stephen Hawking.
By studying these people and what they’ve accomplished despite their struggles, your child might realize that having a difference isn’t so bad after all—and that it can even be something to celebrate!
Encourage physical activity
Physical activity is important for both physical and mental health. It can help your child develop an overall sense of well-being, reduce stress, and improve cognitive function.
Encourage your child to engage in physical activities they enjoy, such as biking or playing soccer with friends. Make sure they get regular exercise by walking or riding their bike to school instead of driving.
If you have a disabled child who cannot participate in traditional sports like running around the field or swimming laps at the pool, you may find that yoga or other low-impact activities are good alternatives for them to stay fit and healthy.
Work together with your partner and/or other family members to come up with ideas about how everyone can take part in these fun activities together!
Show your excitement about their differences as well
Once you’re aware of your child’s strengths, it’s important to help them understand that their differences are special and not something to be ashamed of.
Let them know that mistakes are okay and don’t define them, let them make decisions for themselves whenever possible and appropriate, encourage physical activity (which is crucial for brain development), and encourage them to build habits.
Encourage them to build habits
As a parent, it’s important to encourage your child to build good habits. One of the best ways to do this is by setting an example for them. If you want your child to develop a habit of eating fruits and vegetables, make sure that you’re eating those foods too.
If you want them to be more active during their free time, try getting up and doing some exercise with them instead of watching TV or sitting in front of the computer all day long.
By being an example yourself, it’s much easier for children to follow along with what they see and hear from you than if they only ever heard these things from someone else like teachers or coaches at school or sports practices respectively (both places where we may meet other parents as well).
This way our actions speak louder than words which gives us better chances at truly impacting our children’s lives because we’re both modeling good behaviors while also teaching them how valuable these types of activities are through real-life situations instead of just lecturing them about why it matters so much!
Make sure they know that mistakes are okay and don’t define them.
Make sure they know that mistakes are okay and don’t define them.
Mistakes are an opportunity to learn, and everyone makes them. However, it’s important that children understand that making a mistake does not make them a failure or bad person; it just means they’re human!
If your child receives a poor grade on their math test, for example, don’t tell them how disappointed you are in their performance—instead focus on what they could do next time to improve. Mistakes don’t have to be permanent—they can be fixed!
Let them make decisions for themselves whenever possible and appropriate
It’s a cliche, but it’s true: kids need to know that they’re heard and understood. Children are not mini-adults—they’re still developing the skills necessary for making sound decisions. When you treat them like little adults, you risk setting a precedent that might be hard for them to break later in life when they’re old enough to make their own choices.
Having said that, there are times when your child will need your guidance and wisdom on how best to handle certain situations.
It’s important not only for their development but also because sometimes they simply don’t have all the information they need yet! In these instances, rather than telling them what they should do (or shouldn’t), try leading by example with your own behavior instead. For example:
It is important to teach your child that their difference is something to be celebrated, not an obstacle in the way of their success or happiness
It is important to teach your child that their difference is something to be celebrated, not an obstacle in the way of their success or happiness.
To achieve this, take time to talk with your child about what it means to celebrate individuality. Help them understand that uniqueness is a gift that should be cherished and nurtured by both themselves and others.
Conclusion
If your child is different, it’s important that they know that it’s not just OK but something to be celebrated. It can be tough for any child, but especially one who is different in some way, so we need to be there for them in whatever way we can.
It’s never too late start celebrating these unique qualities and building a better world where everyone feels included and accepted for who they are rather than just what society thinks they should be.
