As a parent, you must be wondering how you can prepare your children for the journey into adulthood. As our children grow, it is important to help them equip themselves with the tools and guidance they need to navigate the challenges that lie ahead. Parents play an essential role in helping children enter into adulthood. The following four key ways can help you support and empower your children as they enter a new chapter of their life.
1. Encourage Independence:
The first and most important thing is to encourage independence. As a parent, you will want to increasingly allow your children to make their own decisions and take on responsibilities that help them develop crucial life skills. From helping them manage their finances to handling household chores to making choices about their education and career paths – it’s important to let them decide and learn from their mistakes. This also helps them build resilience and boost confidence.
2. Encourage Honest Communication:
The second thing is to encourage honest communication. Parents will want to create a safe space for children to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, feelings and concerns. This can help them build their trust and provide guidance without being overbearing. You can nurture their emotional well-being and help them develop strong interpersonal skills by creating a healthy and positive environment.
3. Be a Role Model for Your Children:
You must have heard that children are great observers, and they closely observe their parents’ behavior and attitudes. In order to teach your children skills, you will want to practice them first. Characteristics like empathy, integrity, and perseverance can help them learn life-changing skills. Most importantly, teach your children to embrace change and face failure with grace. It is true that your actions speak louder than words, and embodying the qualities you want to instill in your children provides them with a powerful blueprint for adulthood.
4. Encourage Exploration and Personal Growth:
Encouraging exploration and personal growth is a fourth key for empowering your children. You can do that by encouraging your children to explore their passions, try new things, and step outside of their comfort zones. You can help your children develop a strong sense of self, discover their strengths and pursue meaningful goals by embracing the mindset of continuous learning and personal development.
Parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, religious leaders and communities can help children enter into adulthood and embrace the change that comes with growing up. If you are looking for a book that can help your child welcome adulthood – ‘The Adventures of Toby Baxter: The River Elf, The Giant, and the Closet’ by Tim Wright is one for you. The story revolves around Toby Baxter, who embarks on a journey to find himself and his place in this world. He is a thirteen-year-old boy who loves Marvel Comic Heroes. On the night of his birthday, he is called into a new and unknown world by a River Elf. The River Elves believe Toby is a hero who has the qualities to save them from the trolls. Will he be able to help them?
Just like thirteen-year-old boys, Toby seemingly has no extraordinary skills to be a hero. He believes he has no real gifts or courage to be called a hero. He is even a victim of school bullying. And when he’s overwhelmed by a challenge, his anger tends to get in the way.
Toby is surrounded by male and female mentors in RiverHome, where he learns the meaning of being a real hero. A hero is not someone who possesses extraordinary talents but one who has the courage to face his challenges. Toby learns the essence of being a true hero, as the letters HERO suggests: Honorable, Enterprising, Responsible, and Original.
Tim Wright was highly influenced by The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which inspired him to write a story full of fun and shows a realistic picture of experiences our children face as they begin the transition from childhood to adulthood.
The author hopes that as children read this book, ‘The Adventures of Toby Baxter: The River Elf, The Giant, and the Closet,’ they get inspiration to become a HERO. It is not just a simple children’s book but a story that will help parents instill life-changing lessons in their children. As The Prairies Book Review put it: Engrossing and addictive… A page-turning middle-grade fantasy.
Throughout parenting, remember that it is a lifelong journey and guiding your children into adulthood is an incredible adventure. It’s time to give your children wings and transform them into HERO’s with ‘The Adventures of Toby Baxter: The River Elf, The Giant, and the Closet’ by Tim Wright. It is available on the website and on Amazon.