Foreword
Some might not believe it, but raising kids is interesting. Sometimes children behave badly, they scream, demand the impossible, are rude, get dirty, disobey. But we love them anyway!
What could be more pleasant than seeing how a child becomes smart, educated, well-mannered, and not without our help. I am convinced that parenting can be enjoyful. For both kids and parents.
Being a developmental psychologist, I teach numerous courses for children aged from 4 to 11. The main tenet of my lessons is making children smile. Of course, sometimes children (just like grown-ups) can cry, be angry, sad or become exhausted. It is a part of our lives. But our goal is to accept it, cope with it, and move forward with a smile. Well, maybe not with a smile, but feeling satisfied and engaged in our own lives.
The child points at a person walking down the street bare feet and asks his father: “Dad, why is this man without shoes?” “I think, because he doesn’t have any,” dad replies. “Maybe his shoes were torn?” I can hear the beginning of the kids’ story.
What does this example above tell us? Children always imagine their lives as a continuous process of creation. This is how children in preschool age discover the world around them. We, adults, should use this when we raise our children!
