As parents, we all hope that our kids will grow up to be happy, healthy, responsible adults, don’t we?

It’s important to make a conscious effort to encourage our children to develop independence and strong character early in their lives that enables them to navigate it successfully.

However, our job as parents is not to tell our children how to live their life. Our job is to encourage them to develop sufficient strength of character and provide them with the independence to figure it out for themselves.

Consider these top 10 tips:

1. Lead by example. All children are strongly influenced by their parents’ example. Ensure that the example you set is worthy of following. You cannot expect them to learn and grow just from being told what they should do. You have to do it yourself. Kids always tend to do what you do and not just blindly follow what you say.
2. Get your children out into nature. Let them see how the world works. Take them to the mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Encourage them to have an interest in their natural environment and wildlife. Show them how food is grown and how it gets from the field to the table. Let them try growing some simple vegetables themselves to appreciate the time and energy that nature puts into food production.

3. Give them as much interaction with animals as possible, especially those in the wild. Cultivate their interest in all living beings, their environment, and the fine balance of the ecosystem that supports them.
4. Teach your children about negotiation and consequences. Use their daily routine as a platform. For example, if they have to do chores to earn a trip to the movies, discuss the consequences of not getting the chores done beforehand. Then, there will never be any surprises for them if things don’t work out. If you are consistent, your kids will soon come to you to negotiate with their terms and conditions, about everything that’s important for them. They can learn and understand value, truth, punctuality, and reward by applying the principles to regular household chores or pocket money.

5. Encourage them to speak up about things that are important to them. Better yet, encourage them to think through an issue and write a statement expressing their opinion on the matter. Have them deliver that talk and practice with you before they address the intended recipient(s).
6. Encourage them to question everything. We live in a world where profit, power, and control seem to dominate every topic and every world leaders’ agenda. Teach your children to think critically rather than just believing whatever they see or hear. If your child can develop the habit of receiving information, questioning it, forming their own opinion based on the facts presented, and then challenging the status quo, you will be well on the road to developing a young leader yourself! The world needs more critical thinkers.
7. Teach them about peer pressure and how to resist it before they ever get subjected to the consequences of it. Just because a majority of individuals engage in the same thought or action, it doesn’t make it right. Likewise, if you stand alone against the majority, it doesn’t make you wrong. Resisting following the crowd for all the right reasons is a powerful learning process.
8. Encourage them to explore everything that interests them, fascinates them, or causes an emotional reaction in them. Sadly, lacking in all school curriculums where the dominant methodology is to make all children dress the same, learn the same, and be the same.
   The education system is designed to strip the uniqueness out of young people when what we need is more unique individuals in society, especially those who follow their passion, whether or not it may be on the school agenda.
9. Ensure that they understand what social media is: a mild form of entertainment that has very little value in the real world. Explain where it came from, what it does, and how you can have fun with it, but ensure that they also know that what they see there usually isn’t reality.
10. Engage them in some form of self-defense. The world seems to be becoming an ever more violent place. The chances of your child being in the wrong place at the wrong time is ten times greater now than when you were a child. They need to understand how to evaluate any given situation they may find themselves caught up in and how to remove themselves from it as rapidly as possible. They also need to learn what they can do if they are forced to engage with an assailant and remove themselves from that situation as rapidly as possible.

It’s the school’s job to teach your children about learning, and it’s your job as a parent to teach them about life. If you teach them well, they will grow up to be of strong character and become independent thinkers.

With that as a foundation, they can set out on their life journey with great confidence, courage, and inspiration to create a successful life that fulfills them and a future filled with hope and promise.

Psychologists often describe confidence as a person’s belief in their own ability to succeed. Naturally, every parent would like their child to be self-confident.

However, what seems to challenge parents the most is striking a healthy balance when encouraging confidence. They want to nurture their child’s confidence but not let them get too arrogant.

Also, many parents have a challenge with self-confidence themselves. 

The brilliant Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

This is the key issue: many parents don’t know how to teach confidence to their kids.

• Where do we draw a line?
• Do we push our children to do more or give them all the space they need?
• Can our kids learn how to be self-confident if we are not?

Answers to these questions might seem complicated, but the good news is – you don’t have to do it alone. There are plenty of resources to help you gain direction and clarity.

Even if you aren’t the most confident person in the world, you’ll do a lot for your child if you offer them a healthy, positive role model. It can be someone they know, a fictional character, or a celebrity. The famous physicist, Albert Einstein, is a perfect example.

Here’s what your child can learn about confidence from Einstein’s life and work:

1. It’s okay to have special interests. When he was nine, Einstein went to high school. There, he spent only 3–4 hours a week studying math and science. He was an odd kid, and eventually, he was asked to leave high school, and he left. His home was the only place where he could pursue his interests. Later in life, his special interests led him to win the Nobel Prize and become one of the most famous theoretical physicists in the world. Expose your child to a wide variety of activities and encourage them once they find something they love. Quirky hobbies can be constructive for kids who don’t exactly fit in at school. The fact they’re special at something will affect their confidence positively.
   
   
2. Imagination is the answer. Albert Einstein was one of the most prominent advocates of imagination and creativity. He said, “Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.” Children have a particularly vivid imagination. Let them use it. Help them fantasize. Encourage them to visualize they’ll be doing something important or fulfilling when they grow up. Their dreams might seem unrealistic at the moment, but don’t lower their expectations. They must think about their goals.
   
   
3. Persistence needs to be encouraged. When he was just a child, Einstein was considered dyslexic and a slow learner. Many adults thought he was limited. Later on, he had problems in school. Then, he failed in his first attempt to enroll at Zurich Polytechnic University. During the war, he was targeted by the Nazis. As you can see, obstacles and challenges were all around him. However, he persisted and achieved his goals. Your child will come across many setbacks in life too. Avoid the temptation to be their savior. Let them know you are here if they need you but give them a chance to figure things out independently. To become confident, kids need to learn that it’s okay to take risks and fail. Let them try and get up once they fall. This will make them resilient and strong enough to deal with life’s challenges.

If you think Albert Einstein is too advanced an example of confidence for children at a young age, substitute someone else that can send similar messages.

Diversity is okay, optimism and imagination are potent weapons, perseverance and autonomy are highly valued, and confidence is a path to a happy life!

According to several researchers, children who are read five picture books a week from birth to 5 years old have an expanded vocabulary. They also develop a significant understanding of words and concepts compared to children who are never read to during these formative years.

“Based on these calculations, here’s how many words kids would have heard by the time they turn 5 years old.

• Never read to, 4,662 words;
• 1-2 times per week, 63,570 words;
• 3-5 times per week, 169,520 words;
• read pages daily, 296,660 words; and
• read five books daily, 1,483,300 words.

This ‘Million-Word Gap’ could be one key in explaining differences in vocabulary and reading development, said Jessica Logan, lead author of the study and assistant professor of educational studies at The Ohio State University.” https://ehe.osu.edu/. While there has been controversy about the numbers, there’s no doubt encouraging parents to read very early on, and often to a child, is the right path to increase that child’s language skills, understanding, and ingrain a love for reading and learning. Some researchers have claimed this gap is over 5 million words during these same formative years.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing, beautiful, talented, and loving mother’s around the planet. We’re thinking of our beautiful and loving Betty, our Tata, today! Two Mother’s Days have gone by since God took her to be with Him in Heaven. We miss her so much! Cherish you mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers today, and every day, even if they are looking down from Heaven. Thank them today and every day! Moms, remember to read to your unborn child and your children every day. Tell them you love them every day. Hug them and tell them how amazing and special they are every day!

Our next book, “Time in a Bottle” Archaeology: Book One, will be available June 15, 2021, on Amazon and other sites. Zoey Zebra, and P.B., the panda bear, begin their adventure at the local museum. They learn about prehistoric archaeology. They also learn about the importance of family, friendship, and sharing. Join them on The Great Treasure Hunt!

“Crystal Clear” Mathematics One: Book Five, our last book in the Mathematics One set, is now available on Amazon! Zoey and P.B. search for the new treasure chest left by Zoey’s grandpa. They learn about prime numbers, symmetry, and the law of entropy. They continue to learn about the importance of family, friendship, and sharing.

When you purchase each book, there’s a link at the end of the book. When you enter or click on the link and join our Newsletter Family, you’ll receive the second email link to download the animated reading, a $25 value, for your mobile devices. We hope the children you love and care for each day will be entertained and continue to learn with each animated reading.

Our next set of books are on Archaeology. The first book, “Time in a Bottle” Archaeology: Book One, will be available on June 1, 2021! Each book in our Womb to BLOOM to Classroom Series provides the BONUS animated reading of the book, but this bonus is only available for a short time!

We are excited about our fourth book in our Mathematics One Set going “live” on April 1, 2021. Zoey, P.B., and Polly learn about The Golden Ratio and its designs in nature and creations. They continue to learn about friendship and the importance of family on their journeys.

Even before they’re born, babies learn to recognize their parents’ voices. Reading to your baby before birth and beyond, even for just a few minutes a day, exposes them to language, and the comfort of your voice.

Healthline.com states, “Babies and young children are sponges that soak in practically everything in their environments. It’s true! Even during storytime, their minds are at work, taking in all the language they hear and lessons the characters learn. Reading to your child — at any age — will boost their brain development, your bond, and so much more. And all it takes is a few books, motivation, and a little time.”

We’re excited about the fourth book in our Mathematics One Set going “live” on April 1, 2021. Zoey, P.B., and Polly learn about The Golden Ratio and its designs in nature and creations made by hands and imaginations. They continue to learn about friendship and the importance of family on their journeys. When you purchase the books in our “Womb to BLOOM to Classroom” series and join our Newsletter Family, you’ll receive a free animated reading of each book, for your mobile devices

“What does a butterfly have to do with Mathematics?” “Who stole the famous butterfly and why?” “Who loves mathematics enough to steal math?” Along with their two friends, Sarah and Christian, accept the challenge, even though there’s an unseen force trying to stop them from finding the answers. Their “waking dreams” help provide clues to solve the mystery. Their two friends join them on their adventure.

A team of international thieves may be stealing mathematical and scientific objects to sell. Will the team solve the mystery?

The reader will join the team and complete 7 questions in each of the seven chapters. The authors have provided blank pages for each reader to sketch themselves in scenes from the book. Join us in the mystery hunt.

Our next book in this 16-Book Series, “The Missing Speed of Light,” Book Three: Astronomy, will be available July 1, 2021.

We Would LOVE You to Share Photos or Videos of Your Children Reading Pages from Our Books! Please share your children reading our books on FB and other social media sites including our website www.w2bloom2c.com! Please remember you must be 18 years or older to upload these videos or pictures, and please don’t include any specific identifiers such as last names or addresses, etc. Keeping children SAFE is our #1 priority! We would love you to share images or videos of your children reading our books, or saying some of the concepts or ideas such as the “Fibonacci sequence.” Thanks!

Our third book in our Womb to BLOOM to Classroom Series, “Heads or Tails?” is now available on Amazon and other sites. All those purchasing the book will discover a link at the back of the book. Enter the link and join our Newsletter family, and you will receive a second link for the BONUS animated reading of “Heads or Tails?” for your mobile devices. Thank you!