Did you know that your actions now can rewire your child’s nervous system and affect their actions later in life?
Caregivers Can Rewire a Child’s Nervous System
Imagine a child crawling toward a coffee table.
There’s a shiny vase sitting on top.
The parent notices and screams out as loud as they possibly can, “NO!”
The child stops crawling and starts crying immediately because the parent used shock as a means of controlling the child’s nervous system.
Now, let’s fast forward.
That child is now in high school. They’re attracted to someone else in their class. But they’re unwilling to take the risk and act on that attraction because they want to avoid hearing no.
When you reprimand and punish your children, you wire their nervous system toward being risk averse.
So, you have to ask yourself as a parent: Are the material things that I have, the shiny vase, more important than my child’s ability to explore their environment freely and engage their curiosity so they learn to take risk?
They’re going to hurt themselves.
They’re going to bump into things.
This is how children learn to behave in a controlled, fixed environment.
Your job as a parent is to create a safe environment for your children to explore so that they become risk takers. Because when they’re risk takers, they’re able to get what they want out of this life experience.
Parent to Empower Your Child
Empower your child’s future with your actions today. An interaction that may seem small and meaningless to you, like yelling “no” when your toddler crawls toward a vase, could leave a lasting impact on your child.
In a world where stumbling is inevitable, do your best to create a safe space for exploration, where bumps and bruises pave the path to resilience. You’re not just parenting; you’re shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Nurture risk-takers, and watch them navigate challenges with confidence and fearlessly seize life’s opportunities.
For more advice from Christopher, read his book, Free for Life, and follow him on Instagram.
Christopher Lee Maher is a former Navy SEAL who endured intense amounts of physical, mental, and emotional stress as a child and during and after his military career. He has taught himself how to free his energy, body, mind and emotions from pain by developing the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of being. Christopher studied Traditional Chinese Medical Practices at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and at Yo San University. He then continued his studies at The Universal Healing Tao System. Christopher is a student of Grand Master Mantak Chia at the Universal Tao Master School in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He is currently pursuing his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Traditional Chinese Medicine.