Can I trust you?
Children need to feel 100% secure. This means physical safety and protection from harm, and also emotional security. It's vital for their brain development. Especially in the earliest days, children need a sense of consistency and utter security to lay the foundations of positive mental health for the rest of their lives. This needs to be nurtured through encouragement, warmth, acceptance and respect, as their identity and individual path emerges. They need to be accepted, supported as unique individuals and assured that they belong.
Can I find my path?
Children need time and space to explore. They have a natural curiosity and a drive to experiment and enquire. The more we can nurture and protect these instincts (rather than driving them out), the more we can help children develop knowledge and skills in areas that interest them, and discover what brings them joy. That way lies their path.
If we can pull this off, children's natural enthusiasm, creativity and imagination shine undiminished, and their confidence grows. They survive little moments of vulnerability and learn to be self sufficient.
Do you help me fly?
Children need to grow physically and mentally strong in order to fly. For physical strength, they'll need healthy food and lots of exercise, ideally outdoors. We love outdoor settings because they can be both more calming and, strangely, more stimulating. They also help to develop the ability for children to handle risk. As children develop their thinking and reasoning skills, at the same time they can become mindful and fluent in the language of their feelings. This helps children learn self regulation and perseverance, which are the building blocks of resilience and adaptability.