How To Create A Nurturing Classroom Environment

Regardless of background or political leanings, all parents have one thing in common: the desire to raise their children in a loving and nurturing home. While many parents may have been raised in exceptional home environments, not all people were fortunate enough to share such an experience.

Perhaps one is trying to raise their children in a much more positive environment than they grew up in. Fortunately, there are a number of simple tips anyone can use in order to create a loving environment that will foster a child's sense of safety, as well as encourage academic and emotional growth. Here are a few ways in which any parent can enhance their own home environment, as well as improve their child's quality of life.

Give Them a Space to Call Their Own

A child doesn't require much space, but a place to call their own can enhance their sense of safety and ownership. If space is limited and there aren't many options for a child to place their belongings and toys, consider installing a personalized kitchen cabinet for their things. Have fun with this project, and feel free to get the kids involved too! Learning how to measure kitchen cabinets for installation is easy, and can be a great learning opportunity for children. Creating a personalized space for a child to call their own will encourage a sense of ownership and pride which are important in creating a nurturing home environment.

Play Games & Be Hands-On

While being hands-on and playing games with one's child may not seem like a huge deal, imaginative play can help foster the "parent-child" relationship and encourage social and emotional growth. By taking the time out of one's busy day to sit and play a game, a parent is showing their child that they matter to them and are important.

Studies have been conducted in regards to social skills and the emotional well-being of young children who were not exposed to hands-on play with a trusted parental figure during their early years. Those studies have shown that children who don't receive such care and attention on a regular basis often grow up presenting with maladaptive behaviors, and maybe more disruptive in a classroom setting. Sitting down and playing a game with one's child on a regular basis will help them develop strong social and emotional skills.

Incorporate Reading & Story Time Throughout the Day

Studies have shown that switching out screen time for reading significantly increases a child's white matter in their brains. This white matter is responsible for information processing, especially in the fields of literacy and language.

On average, the amount of time that a parent spends reading to their child has decreased over the last decade. Reading to one's child will increase their literacy and improve their academic performance as they grow. Children who develop a love of reading in early life often grow to be lifelong readers. A quick bedtime story before one turns out the lights is a fantastic tradition that will benefit children throughout their lives.

Help Cultivate Life Skills & Pass Down Personal Knowledge

A great parent does not require years of college or academic experience in order to be successful. Rather, an exceptional parent is hands-on and passes down knowledge in the fields in which they are already familiar.

Parents should regularly involve their children in their daily tasks around the house in order to pass down valuable life skills and lessons. For example, teach them how to load laundry into the washing machine, or how to fold towels as they come out of the dryer. Parents could involve their son or daughter when it's time to change the oil in the vehicle, talking them through each step of the process. While one may think that these simple tasks are of little to no significance, these times often become cherished memories that children will look back on with fondness as they grow.

Being a great parent doesn't require a vast amount of money or resources. Parents who incorporate these simple tips into their daily lives will not only enhance and strengthen their relationship with their children but will also improve their quality of life and set them up for a successful future.