Being authentic

Be yourself, share the good things happening in your life as well as some of the challenges you experience. For example: I had a hard day today because I couldn't do something at work that I needed to finish... The children will learn from their parents and the caregivers' example. You are teaching by example that failure and success are part of life. In return, this will help them develop their resilience. Use your voice to show honesty and share your experiences – this will develop your spiritual growth.

What it says to your child: I fail and if you fail too, that's fine. You were fine when you failed, and that's fine with me too. We don't always succeed and sometimes we make mistakes. It happens to every human being.

How you can do it: Tell them a story of when you tried something hard and failed. Share a story of when you were a kid and failed and as an adult too. Share your daily struggles, appropriately as per the child's understanding. Be careful not to overwhelm your child with daily life challenges, but exemplify how we show strength in difficult times. Invite them to share a story of their own about their day, about what went well and what was difficult. Listen carefully. Be kind and understanding, show empathy for what they went through.

With younger children: It's normal for them to feel frustrated about not getting something they wanted. Reassure them with gestures, a soft, reassuring tone of voice, and your body language that everything is okay. Take a deep breath when you're frustrated and apologize to them if you reacted harshly.

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