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Establishing a supportive home environment

Fostering emotional, physical and psychological well-being for children
Wetumwene Shikage
As a parent, guardian or caregiver, it is important to realise the importance of implementing a home environment where children are supported emotionally, physically and psychologically.

The process may take a while, but when done consistently, it becomes a habit that yields great results.

Attending to children's needs allows them to feel a sense of love and care. Rendering emotional support means validating your child’s feelings rather than shutting them down. When your child expresses their emotions and you support them, you give them a foundation for growth and development.

“It is not only the role of parents to teach children how to handle their emotions. We as housekeepers and nannies also spend time with children in their home – hence, it is important to step in there as well,” says Laudika Simon, who works as a housekeeper in Windhoek.

She spends most of her time caring for children when their parents are not around. She said the role of a nanny or housekeeper goes beyond completing house chores.

Benefits of emotional support

When you emotionally support children, the whole family reaps the benefits. Emotional support shows children that they are in a safe space to seek help, no matter what.

It is important to give children space and the opportunity to explore their feelings and share them without fear or invalidation. When they explore their day-to-day feelings, they become better equipped to deal with the bigger emotions and issues that adults face. Being emotionally supportive towards children creates a stable environment that is happier, builds their confidence and fosters resilience.

Physical support

Supporting children physically can be as easy as involving them in your fitness routines.

Whether you decide to exercise with them at home, at the gym or in the outdoors, the results can be rewarding.

Erastus James is the father of two girls and one boy who are all under 15 years old. He said being a fitness enthusiast has made it easier for him to include his three children in simple, fun and easy workouts. “At first, I had to ask them to come along for an afternoon walk or to join me in home workouts,” he said.

James said when he has had a busy day and wants to skip a workout, they ask him: “Dad, when are we exercising again?” This is a great way to help them and yourself stay fit, he said.

Psychological support

Children’s mental well-being is not only great for their progression – it is also a way to help them become self-reliant in this regard.

Amongst supporting children’s psychological well-being, raisingchildren.net highlights that “good mental health is an important part of healthy child development. It helps children build positive social, emotional, thinking and communication skills. This also lays the foundation for better mental health and well-being for their future.”

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-07

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Premier League: Fulham 2 vs 1 Brentford Katima Mulilo: 22° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 31° Eenhana: 21° | 31° Oshakati: 21° | 31° Ruacana: 20° | 31° Tsumeb: 19° | 26° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 23° Omaruru: 20° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 19° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 12:28, High tide: 06:39, Low Tide: 00:56, High tide: 18:52 Swakopmund: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:37, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:50 Walvis Bay: 15° | 24° Wind speed: 23km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:36, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:49 Rehoboth: 20° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 36° Aranos: 20° | 34° Lüderitz: 14° | 24° Ariamsvlei: 22° | 36° Oranjemund: 15° | 24° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 19° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 13° | 24° Maseru: 12° | 25° Antananarivo: 14° | 30° Lilongwe: 22° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 26° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 22° Durban: 16° | 23° Johannesburg: 15° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 31° Lusaka: 20° | 31° Harare: 17° | 30° Currency: GBP to NAD 22.41 | EUR to NAD 18.67 | CNY to NAD 2.42 | USD to NAD 17.3 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.25 | EGP to NAD 0.34 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.63 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.03 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.81 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.24 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1680.41 | USD to ZAR 17.31 | USD to ZMW 27.07 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1858.03 Down -1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14296.93 Down -0.02% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31045.26 Up +0.82% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9878.53 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - 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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 699.68/OZ UP +1.34% | Copper US$ 4.42/lb UP +4.49% | Zinc US$ 3 067.80/T UP 2.95% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 76.03/BBP UP +0.70% | Platinum US$ 991.13/OZ UP +0.70%