"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." -- Nelson Mandela
Fearless Parenting
"Why is it good for kids to be fearless? Being fearless means pushing the limits of your personal comfort zone. As kids push that comfort zone further and further, they’re increasing their awareness of the world around them. They’re learning from their mistakes, growing in confidence, opening up more possibilities, and making what might have once seemed impossible, possible. As they grow into adults, this early fearless attitude will set them up for the many hurdles that they’ll encounter in later life.
Testing your comfort zone is scary [....] it’s important to provide children with all the support you can, so they feel comfortable pushing their boundaries and learning from any mistakes along the way [...] it’s important not to push your own fears onto kids. Allow them to take their own journey and find out what tests them. Whatever it is that they fear, let them know that as they learn and understand more about what they’re afraid of, they’ll soon become less fearful and be able to take big leaps forward." This week's featured article from National Geographic interviews the host of "Fearless Adventures with Jack Randall" about tips on raising fearless kids.
Testing your comfort zone is scary [....] it’s important to provide children with all the support you can, so they feel comfortable pushing their boundaries and learning from any mistakes along the way [...] it’s important not to push your own fears onto kids. Allow them to take their own journey and find out what tests them. Whatever it is that they fear, let them know that as they learn and understand more about what they’re afraid of, they’ll soon become less fearful and be able to take big leaps forward." This week's featured article from National Geographic interviews the host of "Fearless Adventures with Jack Randall" about tips on raising fearless kids.
Reading Corner
Title: Me and My Fear
By: Francesca Sanna
Stages: 2-8
"Authentic and immediate, the first-person narration draws in readers and reveals just how easily fear can become overwhelming and isolating, but can also be controlled when feelings are shared and through comfort found in friendship. Like Sanna's The Journey, this book about an immigrant's experiences tackles a tough topic with honesty, empathy, and a sense of hopefulness." --School Library Journal starred review
By: Francesca Sanna
Stages: 2-8
"Authentic and immediate, the first-person narration draws in readers and reveals just how easily fear can become overwhelming and isolating, but can also be controlled when feelings are shared and through comfort found in friendship. Like Sanna's The Journey, this book about an immigrant's experiences tackles a tough topic with honesty, empathy, and a sense of hopefulness." --School Library Journal starred review
Recommended by Kindful Kids Editors
Be the Change
This week, choose one of the wonderful books on this list to share with your child, to spark a discussion about overcoming fears. The next time your child expresses fear, try one of the tips recommended in this article.
Do you have any stories about helping your child overcome a fear? Please share with the Kindful Kids community here.
Do you have any stories about helping your child overcome a fear? Please share with the Kindful Kids community here.
