Nurture Your Child by Observing the Kindness within Them

From the Heguru Handbook.

Realise that all children are inherently good. Children do not misbehave just for the sake of misbehaving. There is usually some underlying cause or reason for bad behaviour. As parents, it is important for us to discover the underlying motivation for such behaviours and to correct those. Address these underlying issues and the bad behaviour will correct itself. Reprimanding your child for the misbehaviour is like treating the symptoms without identifying the cause. If all you do is to treat the symptoms, inevitably, the bad behaviour will return.

For example, if a child shoplifts, simply scolding your child harshly to prevent such conduct can lead to a reverse effect on your child. It is important to identify the motivations for the behaviour. Children who shoplift usually do so due to feelings of loneliness or not feeling loved. Children who are mentally fulfilled are unlikely to get involved in illegal activities.

It is easy for parents to be misled by the misbehaviours of their children. Have faith in your child and believe in his “goodness”. If misbehaviours should arise, search for the true cause of those misbehaviours and correct it. Often children misbehaving are those who are most in need of kind attention. By searching for the hidden messages in your child’s behaviour, you will be able to understand your child’s heart. When your child feels understood, you will become his most trusted confidant and this trusting relationship will cement the bond between you and serve as a power source to be depended upon during times of difficulty in future.