Making Your Child Mentally Tough in 4 Steps

A mentally strong child is not someone who suppresses their emotions, acts tough and defiant, or is unkind to others. Instead, they are resilient, confident, and courageous to deal with any challenge the world throws at them and achieve their full potential. As a parent, you’re partly responsible for helping your child become mentally tough. This will go a long way in your child’s life and education, especially when you choose to enrol them in one of the best CBSE residential schools in Tamilnadu. With this in mind, take note of these four steps to effectively help your child become mentally tough.

1. Know the best approaches

Raising a mentally tough child is not as easy as it sounds, but you can provide the encouragement and support they require to become successful. Remember that mentally strong children can handle problems, cope with hardships, and recover from failure. According to experts, it takes a three-pronged approach to do this:

• Help them to manage their emotions, so their emotions won’t control them.
• Demonstrate how they can take positive actions.
• Encourage them to think realistically instead of negatively.

These approaches will teach your child to empower themselves, adapt to change, set boundaries and know when to say no and admit their mistakes. These may also help your child see the good in others and be happy when others are successful.

2. Be the role model they deserve

Children learn to act in various situations by observing their parents. That means your child can pick up your habits and traits and mirror them accordingly. So, try to be conscious of your actions and how you react to situations and events. If your child sees you’re mentally tough, they can strive to be like you. Here’s how you can become a good role model to them:

• Become a mentally strong parent: Encourage your child to be mentally strong by talking to them about your goals and how you’re making efforts to be stronger. Show you’re prioritising your mental strength and self-improvement to be a better individual and parent.

• Show your child how to face their fears in a healthy way: Praise their effort, cheer them on, and reward their bravery to teach them that they can be courageous and capable of leaving their comfort zone.

3. Help your child learn mental toughness

Find ways to empower your child to be mentally strong. Supporting them in various situations can provide you with the chance to teach mental toughness for dealing with challenging situations and uncomfortable emotions. Here are a few ways you can do this:

• Teach certain skills: Discipline is not about making a child suffer for a mistake. Instead, it should teach them to do better the next time. So, try teaching specific skills as consequences, such as self-discipline, impulse control, and problem-solving skills. That way, your child can learn self-control and behave productively, even when facing difficulties.

• Allow mistakes to happen: The best CBSE residential schools in Tamilnadu emphasise the importance of making mistakes as a learning process. So, don’t shame or punish your child if they’re wrong about something. Let natural consequences occur when it’s safe, and discuss how to avoid making the same mistake again.

• Teach your child to regulate their emotions: Avoid the urge to cheer up your child when they’re sad or calm them when they’re upset. When you let them deal with challenging emotions on their own, they won’t grow dependent on anyone to regulate them. Children who understand and acknowledge their feelings will know what to do with challenges.

4. Work with your child

Focus on your child’s confidence levels, self-esteem, and independence, and work with them to improve certain aspects while inspiring healthy habits that can make them mentally tough. Try fostering these tough abilities in your child:

• Healthy self-talk: Encourage reframing negative thoughts, so your child can think optimistically yet realistically.

• Build a stronger moral compass: This can help your child make healthier decisions. Instilling better values like compassion and honesty will help them become more empathetic to themselves and others.

• Let your child feel uncomfortable: Don’t rush in to help when they’re struggling. Let them learn responsibility for their actions and not to make excuses when they misbehave or make mistakes.

• Teach your child to be grateful: Gratitude can help them overcome bad habits that can make them mentally weak, such as self-pity. Encourage your child to see the best in themselves and the world, even on bad days, so they know what to be thankful for.

Your child’s educators can help.

Choose one of the best CBSE residential schools in Tamilnadu for your child. SSVM Institutions is a co-educational, residential school where your child will grow into a mentally tough and confident individual and global citizen. The school’s student dorms provide a suitable environment for students to live, learn, and grow. Enquire about admissions through their website to learn more.