by Samantha Booth, MA

Teaching kids to understand their thoughts, longings, desires, and emotions helps them observe why they do the things they do. Humility in a child’s life includes learning to serve others, listen, desire growth, honesty, see life through the lens of invitations rather than inconveniences, want the best for others, and manage emotions. 

Here are 7 tips to cultivate humility in your child.

1. Make listening part of the culture in your home.  Teach them by modeling to be slow to speak and quick to listen. It is tempting to overrun people with our own opinions and thoughts. 

2. Practice Empathy. It’s about being genuinely relational and seeing other people through a lens of value and worth. Children can also practice empathy by caring for pets or maintaining a garden.  

3. Create a mindset for opportunity.  Opportunities to engage and serve others can be embraced as invitations rather than dreaded as inconveniences. A simple language change could be saying " I get to" rather than "I have to."

4. Gratitude.  Practice thankfulness together as a family, daily.

5. Cultivate a culture of respect.  Respect each other’s unique ideas, emotions, and interests by noticing and learning to live well together those differences.

6. Words of Encouragement.  Fuel others with words of encouragement.  Be mindful of how you speak of others, especially around your children.

7.  Serve others and your community. Map out ways you can serve within your family and in your neighborhood, school, or community.

Source: Focus on the Family

The growth of humility in your child’s life will lead to positive development in many other areas of their character and relationships. Take time each day to model and invest in this trait and teach your kids to be humble as you engage with them.  At River Counseling we meet you where you are at, offering hope. That is our mission. You may schedule an appointment with the Platte office or with one of the therapists from our other locations, Sioux Falls Psychological services or Stronghold Counseling in Sioux Falls or Yankton.  To schedule an appointment please call 605-334-2696.

Please note that River Counseling’s phone number has changed to 605-274-2716 and the 337-3444 phone number is no longer in service.