Entering the World of the Child: The Importance and Benefits of Following Your Child’s Leadership
Child development is a journey that involves complex processes in many areas. As parents in this process, one of the most effective ways to support our child’s development is to follow his/her leadership. So, what does this mean? It means following the child’s lead, participating in his/her interests, world and games, trying to understand his/her feelings and thoughts. With this approach, you can significantly support both emotional and cognitive development of your child.
Why is it important to enter a child’s world?
Entering a child’s world starts with understanding their likes and dislikes. This manifests itself not only in play, but also in the choices he/she makes in daily life. When you enter the child’s world, you get to know him/her better. By observing what he/she is interested in, which games he/she spends more time with, you can establish a more meaningful and effective bond with him/her. This process improves the child’s language development and social skills, while strengthening his/her secure bond with you.
Developmental Benefits of Following the Child’s Leadership:
1. Language Development: When following a child’s lead, you can support language development by having conversations about things that interest him/her. Children listen more attentively and imitate what they are interested in. This makes it easier for them to learn new words.
2. Joint attention: Giving joint attention to an activity with your child is extremely important for social and cognitive development. By following the child’s interest, you can play with him/her for a longer time and increase the attention span in this process.
3. Secure Attachment: When you take into account the child’s interests, you build a stronger emotional bond with him/her. This makes the child feel secure and strengthens his/her bond with you. Secure attachment is a critical element that will ensure success in social relationships at a later age.
4.Play Development: Play is the most natural way for the child to explore the world. When you follow the child’s lead and participate in his/her games, you contribute to the development of play skills. This also supports imagination and problem-solving skills.
5. Progress in other areas of development: Following your child’s lead supports not only language or social skills, but also motor, cognitive and emotional development. This helps your child take a step forward in all areas of development and maximise their potential.
So how do we enter our child’s world?
1. Discover their interests: Chat with your child, participate in their games and observe them to understand what they like and what they are interested in.
2. Be an active listener: Listen carefully to what your child says, try to understand him/her without interrupting. Empathise and accept their feelings.
3. Participate in Games: Take part in your child’s game world, let him/her lead it. This allows him/her to express himself/herself.
4. Support Curiosity: Respond to your child’s questions, encourage him/her to explore. Plan activities to understand and develop their curiosity.
5. Establish Emotional Connection: Allow him to express his feelings, provide him with a safe space. In a loving environment, the child is more willing to share his/her inner world.
These steps will help you build a stronger communication with your child and understand his/her world better.
In conclusion; following the child’s leadership means entering his/her world and growing with it. This process is a learning and development opportunity for both parents and children. When you accompany your child in his/her games, you are actually taking the most important step to support his/her development. Remember, it is possible to learn, grow and build a stronger bond with your child by following their lead.