Harvard psychologists have been studying the core principles of parenting to help raise ‘good’ kids. They believe that teaching kids kindness and empathy is crucial for their development as adults. The six key principles include spending time with your kids, saying it out loud, showing your child how to make decisions, making a helpfulness and gratitude routine, checking your child’s destructive emotions, and showing them the bigger picture.
Hanging out with your kids is essential for raising a child, as it helps them understand their uniqueness and how to show care and concern for others. It is also important to say it out loud, as many children may not hear the message that being caring is a top priority.
Teaching your child how to “work it out” involves helping them identify the root of problems and helping them fix them. Parents should encourage their kids to express gratitude and help them inculcate the habit of helping others throughout the day. Setting clear boundaries and demonstrating examples of people exhibiting empathy and kindness in the news and entertainment can also help reinforce the importance of kindness.
