Empowering Our Youth
What does empowerment look like? This morning I got a call from my child’s first grade teacher. She told me that my son had had an accident; he didn’t make it to the bathroom in time. I asked a few questions and discovered there’s a rule in place that children in his class are only allowed to visit the bathroom three times per day to minimize gathering in small spaces– a covid precaution. Some of you are reading this and thinking, “Ok… so what?”
Imagine that you’ve just started a new job. You’re a little nervous, still learning the lay of the land and what’s expected of you. You get to work on time, stay focused and try to make a good first impression. You want your boss and your co-workers to be glad that you’re part of the team. A month into your new job you’re given the new guidelines for your job and in it you read that an employee is only allowed to visit the bathroom three times per day. So you’re thinking, “Ok, that sounds reasonable. I shouldn’t have to go more than that.” But the problem is, today you do. You’re having trouble focusing on your work because all you can think about is how you’re not allowed to go to the bathroom. It starts to consume your mind and you don’t get much work done. You’re trying to decide if you should go to the bathroom that fourth time and risk getting punished or stay in your seat and have an accident. Except you’re an adult, so you know the humiliation of peeing in your pants is much worse than being scolded by your boss. In reality this is a ridiculous scenario because we all know there is no employer who has these rules in their office.
Schools should be no different. Controlling a classroom full of kids is no easy task, especially when children are constantly coming and going. (To the bathroom or elsewhere.) It’s difficult to keep kids engaged and minimize distraction, especially during a pandemic. I'm so grateful for the hard work, patience and dedication my childrens’ teachers have shown during this particularly challenging time. The problem is when kids are being told that adults have control over their natural reflexes, not only do they receive a message that someone else knows their body better than they know it themselves, but they’re actually MORE distracted thinking about how they are going to manage this issue.
Want to empower your children? Give them the power to make choices and teach them to listen to their gut.
Whether it’s letting them decide if it’s a day to wear a hat and mittens outside at recess, or if they’re full after eating only a few bites at the dinner table– allow them to build trust within themselves. That trust translates into confidence as they grow older and that confidence is what helps them succeed in life.
The way to empower our children is to help them have experiences, not give them all the answers. The next time your child asks you to help them with their homework or choose clothes for the day, be there to encourage them to answer their own questions, and lend a hand if they really need it. If you’re a parent of young kids, what have you done recently to help empower your children? What are some ways you’ve encouraged your child to find the answers they seek? Let me know below.
