UNDERSTAND YOUR CHILD
There is more to child development than what ordinary parents,
like me, know.
According to some psychologists, every maturation stage; and
an entry to the next one, presents a crisis within a child.
Maturation is a state when one has come to know something
very well. Immaturity is a time before that. Like all of us, when
we’ve come to know something; we outgrow it; we want
something different. That something different is unknown.
The unknown is scary for everyone, more so for children. Adults
have confronted the unknown many times in their lives and
development. Children however, are excited about new
discoveries, and about growing up. Yet once something has
been mastered, there’s a drive to desire the next mastery. All
this is in the subconscious mind.
What is more conscious is the void;
the unknown; the uncertainty.
We need to remember that
development is rapid in children,
while it has slowed down in adults.
Therefore, these uncertainties
create subtle inner crisis in children.
As parents we know more about
these feelings. We also know our
children more than anyone else.
Our job is just to pay attention,
listen compassionately and guide.
By Thozi Theko-Oum