Helping children grow up

Trips and outings together help strengthen the bonds of love and affection among Kim Cuong's family members. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)

The recent April 30th holiday was truly fulfilling for Ms. Kim Cuong's family – a teacher in Ninh Kieu district – with a fascinating trip to Cat Tien National Park. During the trip, she and her husband took the opportunity to teach their two children about nature and survival skills. Ms. Kim Cuong shared: “I have two children, Ngoc Minh, 18, and Nhat Minh, 14. Every year, during long holidays or the summer, my husband and I often take our children on trips that combine travel with sports activities: cycling, jogging, or participating in hands-on experiences so that they can both gain life knowledge and relax.”

During their trips, in addition to sharing practical knowledge about the landmarks and history of the places visited, Kim Cuong and her husband teach their children independence, self-care, and how to proactively cope with difficult situations. For example, they inform their children about the itinerary and weather so they can prepare the necessary clothes and items for the activities. According to Kim Cuong, creating a close-knit family atmosphere through shared activities is very important, not only helping parents understand their children better but also allowing them to provide timely advice and guidance. She always encourages her two children to maintain the habit of walking with their parents every evening and helping with household chores. No matter how busy they are, her family still eats meals together, frequently goes to the movies, and visits their grandparents in the countryside. She also teaches her children about compassion by participating in charitable activities with them, collecting old clothes and books to donate to those in need.

Sharing her parenting philosophy, Ms. Ngoc Tran from Ninh Kieu district said: “Each child has a different personality. Parents are the most important people in shaping and guiding their children's personalities. I have a 10-year-old son. He is very stubborn and often disobeys his parents. Understanding that this is the age when personality and character are gradually forming, I always try to be close to him. Knowing that my son likes to draw, I often buy colored pencils and draw funny pictures with him. When he has a beautiful picture, he excitedly shows it to his grandparents and asks me to keep it.” Besides drawing, Ms. Tran always tries to spend time with her son participating in outdoor activities, supporting him in creative assignments at school, such as making greeting cards, building model houses from ice cream sticks... increasing closeness and positive interaction with her child. According to Ms. Tran, in today's digital age, these activities not only help strengthen family bonds but also help children develop essential skills.

Sharing her approach to raising her child, Ms. Bich Ngoc from Cai Rang district believes that parents' behavior and attitudes greatly influence their children. For many years, Ms. Ngoc has been busy selling goods at the market, leaving little time for her young son. She entrusts his education to the teachers at school and relies on ride-hailing services for his transportation. Each day, family members only see each other for dinner. After a quick meal, everyone goes back to their own work.

Ms. Ngoc recounted: “When Quan was 13 years old, I realized my son was becoming increasingly distant, talking less with his parents, and his studies were declining. To pressure him into studying, I often scolded and spanked him. However, the more I forced him, the more counterproductive it became; my son became even more rebellious and distant from me.” Following advice from many people, Ms. Ngoc proactively changed herself, becoming more patient with her son. She tutored him, offered him encouragement and motivation, and spent more time talking to him, taking him out to play and explore nature on weekends, and encouraging him to help with household chores. As a result, their mother-son bond strengthened. Now, her son often shares with her about school and his classmates.

According to psychologists, with the explosion of information technology, children today are more knowledgeable and have access to more information. Therefore, parents need to change, adapt, and use appropriate methods to befriend their children. Regardless of the method used, the most important thing remains care and understanding. By putting themselves in their children's shoes, parents need to spend time caring for, talking to, and understanding their children with love, creating a good environment for children to grow up in, and strengthening family bonds and happiness.

NATION BUILDING

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/giup-con-tre-truong-thanh-a186269.html