The Power of Paying Attention

If you’re a parent, you probably wear more hats than just “mom” or “dad.” You’re likely someone’s boss, employee, spouse, mentor, daughter or son. You’re in charge of not only your children, but also your team at work, your church group, or your aging parents. So, how much time do you spend truly paying attention to your children?

Today, children experience more challenges than ever before, causing unprecedented mental health issues. Bullying, familial strife, academic pressure, mental illness, and physical insecurities can all weigh children down. Those who receive insufficient attention and support struggle to process these challenges, which eventually takes a toll on their performance socially, academically, and physically. It’s not uncommon for these children to lash out at themselves and others and feel intense despair or helplessness.

It’s the job of parents to truly pay attention to the early signs of distress that children display, and to educate, support, and influence them to redirect their emotions in a productive way.

The original three Rs -- “reading, ‘writing, and ‘rithmetic” -- are no longer enough to lay the foundation for your child’s future. Academic intelligence is important, but emotional intelligence can carry a child through the most trying times of their life.

In my book, 21st Century Parenting, you will learn about the new three Rs -- Reading your child’s internal and external world, Regulating your child’s emotional temperature, and Redirecting your child’s behavior. The book teaches parents how to recognize these opportunities and the challenges their children face.

While it may seem impossible to read your child’s mind, simply paying attention to your child’s emotional and physical world can help to shape their future for the better.

We will explore these new three R’s individually and in depth in upcoming posts. The first step is recognizing that what children need is the committed leadership from the most influential people in their lives: their parents.