My thesis and me

by: Meg

I was inspired to write ‘my thesis and me’ it’s just because being the author of a certain thesis book entitled Child’s Intellectual Development Center; I was encouraged that even though it was done many years ago, my learning through observation, reading and experience brought me to extend some thoughts about kids, parents and family.

My thesis had something to do with the learning and acquiring knowledge of kids. Since youngsters were my end users, I focused myself to know and learn kid’s behavior, personalities, characters and their differences from ages 0 to 12.  According to research, child’s mind is like a diskette, their memory to absorb certain facts is easier to remember and learn while they are still young. It is the proximal stage development of a child where in their acquiring knowledge is strongest.

Certainly, parents should allow the kids to explore and discover their own potentials by giving them the freedom to know what they want. Providing them the right environment and creating a right atmosphere at home are very essential in developing the four aspects of a child’s growth --- physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. How?

Playing is a very basic bonding between parents and their kids. To discover their own potentials give the kids certain toys that are mind enriching and empowering such as puzzles, building blocks, books, clays, musical instruments that will develop their creativity, imagination, sensory perception and visualization. Again, it’s very important to spend quality time with them, providing such toy games are not enough, your presence matters much to them. In fact, a study shows that a kid who spends more quality time with their father is usually grows smarter than any other kids who only play among his or her peers. It’s because, fathers are ‘thinkers’ while mothers are ‘feelers’. Fathers are born to be problem solvers and intellectually powerful. Furthermore, kid’s identity also enhances acquiring both traits of their mommy and daddy. With proper guidance and encouragement, parents nurture their kids to be more equip, wiser and stronger as their freedom to become teenager starts to develop.

Personal Touch

The principle behind my thesis is in Proverbs 22:6… Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. This is true because personally as the author, I came to learn more and observe how kid’s behavior naturally develops and acquires through the kind of environment which their parents created with them and for them. Recently in church, I came to appreciate more this kid name Ryan. He’s one of my students in Sunday school. He’s only 3 years old yet I admire him for being so sweet and wonderful! One time during the worship service, I saw him raising his hand praising God just like his father doing. It was so great to see how this young little boy blessing God’s heart in his own special way. Like father, like son as I saw them that day.

Further Studies

Obviously every kid is different. Twins are different, how much more if kids have many siblings. Personalities, traits, characters and attributes truly vary in each child. Usually, the first born child is more independent and thinks responsibly while the youngest one matures gradually and is considered adorable because of its endearing quality. Kids in between are mostly talented, artistically inclined and achievers; Children of these kind are usually find their ways to be recognized in the family especially if he or she has many siblings. With parents’ love, appreciation, guidance and proper discipline, the uniqueness of each child comes out naturally and beautifully as time passes by.

Biblical Perspective

By constant reading, discovering and learning, it’s very essential in every child to embrace Exodus 20:12. If God instructed parents with Proverbs 22:6, we as child are responsibly mandated to honor our fathers and mothers. It’s an act of love how we value our parents regardless of their shortcomings, inadequacies and imperfections. Everyone has different parents and upbringing but I encouraged still to love and respect our mothers and fathers. There is no ‘you’ in this world without them. In the same manner, the completeness of each child is a combination of his or her parents in fullness of their great love.

The key to understanding of our parents’ imperfection is acceptance. They’re born in different era or generation not similar from us in as much as they have their own parents too. Nevertheless, we still carry their DNA genes that made us similar to them and their parents as well.  As an author, I want to encourage every child to flourish in their youth the importance of forgiveness especially when parents give proper discipline. Understand that there’s no school or universities that offer a 4-year course for parenting but with us as their children, we can give them ample time and opportunity to learn and be good parents as well. How?

Start to appreciate. The healthiest human emotion is not love but gratitude. By recognizing and magnifying the goodness of our parents, we enable to focus more on the positive side of their kindness. I believe that every one created by God has always a beauty in their heart. Strengthen it by simply allowing and appreciating what our parents have and do not have. Moreover, saying ‘I love you’ to them is an expression that we care, love and need them in our lives. The power of words from us to bless their heart is a strong, warm and compelling way that gives them an assurance, courage and strength to live more each day for us. With gratitude and care, we nourish the love we learned from them or if not from them, it’s from God.

Footnotes

I said from God because some kids were raised without their parents anymore however, this is not a reason to limit the capacity of a child to learn how to love without his parents on his side. Dealing with the right perspective and attitude, if a kid knows and learns that he is a child of the Most High God (who can give him more than enough of unconditional love and support) that child will grow more like his heavenly Father with so much love and full of wisdom bearing the genes (which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit) in his heart, mind and soul. =)