Spring and Easter bring forth promises.

Young children are a promise as well. In sharing this with you, I’d like to dwell on each letter of “promise” as we realize that your child is a promise and a possibility, as we explore ways we can encourage each child to reach their potential.

• P: Praise and encourage your child. Instead of waiting to celebrate his or her life on their birthdays, celebrate your child every day. Hugs are wonderful! Verbal praise is so important for a young child to hear when they have done a good job.
• R: Reach out to your child. In our world today, we spend so much time on the run. In reaching your young child from parent to child, it is more important to spend free time with them rather than heading off to too many structured activities. Free play is so important for young children.  Play is a way that children work, grow and express themselves.
• O: Optimism is contagious to be around. Children love to be around happy people. Practice POP, which means being a positive, optimistic peacemaker.
• M: Meet the strengths of your child’s gifts. Listening, being available, offering activities to reinforce your child’s talents, and love is like the spring water to nurture their gifts, skills and talents.
• I: Interaction is so important in reaching and teaching a young child. There are several approaches to learning:

— Visual learning is where a child learns more by seeing pictures or demonstrations.

— Reflective learners usually learn best when they are alone.These children are usually observers for a long time in assessing their situations.

— Logical learners are geared to learn by following patterns or sequences.

— Physical learners learn best by a lot of activity such as being active with their hands, feet, their whole body.

— Relational learners interact and relate well other children. They are very social, love to work in groups and make friends.

— Musical learners love to sing, hum and they enjoy playing musical instruments.

— Natural learners love the world outside.  They are naturally little scientists who love to look closely at nature with all its plants and animals.

• E: Every day is a gift wrapped up in a bow when young children are at the beginning of their little lives. 

Parents, they grow up so very quickly.

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.

Her column appears regularly in The Bulletin.