04/24/2023
Normalize telling children that they are kind, compassionate, worthy, empathetic, helpful, adaptable, generous, inspiring, and/or considerate. Put value in allowing people to do things that make themselves happy. Praise them when they do something well, commiserate when things did not turn out how they desired while pointing out the parts that worked well. Teach them how to build a better way of learning that works for them and that mistakes can lead to innovation. Help them find the things that they become passionate about. Work on showing how to be honest without being hurtful, assist others without being condescending, and cooperative without being subservient. Instruct them on ways to question using facts and sources without being belligerent and how to use critical thinking, including fact checking, to avoid being a blind follower.
Show them how to be respectful of the differences in faith, culture, language, and autonomy for themselves and other individuals. Demonstrate the proper ways to push back against injustice. Explain the when it is time to fight, time to negotiate, and time to look around for another solution. Normalize that there is a time to avoid or stop fighting without lack of courage. Teach them to be better selves and to learn how to recognize what that means. And when they become good people, they will teach others the same lessons.
Telling people that they are intelligent, smart, beautiful, athletic, or successful and encouraging them to follow on with those ideas does not make them good people.
