A lot of the world’s problems could be solved if we were all a little more open-minded. An open-minded person has a natural curiosity and the desire to want to learn more. Rather than considering their opinion as the only right way, they use their ability to evaluate things from different angles to gain a greater perspective. Instead of labeling others, they use their understanding of people’s differences to respect them as best they can.
An open-minded person doesn’t dwell so much on the past because any mistakes they made are viewed by them as an opportunity for betterment. Furthermore, an open-minded person doesn’t get caught up in details of the future because they see an abundance of possible outcomes. This leads the open-minded person to embrace the present and appreciate all of the beautiful moments as they unfold.
The ability to navigate life with an open mind is indeed a gift. And it is a gift we can give our children.
I have two beautiful daughters; one is four years old and the other is sixteen months. If I have learned anything about parenting so far, it’s that most of what kids learn is caught, not taught. So, it makes sense that if we want our children to reap the benefits of the open-minded life, we must first make sure that we, as parents, are demonstrating what that looks like. Being the person you want your kid to be is the most powerful parenting choice you can make.
Here are some ways to encourage the development of an open-mind:
Create an open learning environment. Help your kids develop critical thinking and teach them to make independent judgments. When they ask for your help, don’t offer a solution. Instead, discuss different ideas together. Let them make mistakes and even fail sometimes. For your child to become a successful, open-minded adult, they need to learn how to get over failure, analyze their mistakes, and make more successful attempts.
Speak respectfully about others and their lifestyle choices. Let your child have friends who are not like them. Encourage them to have friends with different backgrounds and ethnicities. Playing with other kids will help them realize that they are just like them despite their skin color, religion or ethnic background.
Expose your child to a variety of activities, social settings, and cultural events. Read books, visit museums, watch documentaries, try new foods and learn about all different kinds of art. The more they know about the world around them, the more likely they are to approach it with an open mind.
Respect your child’s individuality. If you really want them to be open-minded, don’t push them into stereotypical molds. Let them grow outside of “feminine” and “masculine” roles and try different things they like.
Teach your children to deal with criticism and prejudice. You’ll have to teach them how to stand up for themselves without being aggressive. When your child faces a prejudice because of their hobbies, friends or appearance, talk through the problem with them. Help them feel confident.
Discuss the positive qualities in others. Encourage your child to point out the strengths and talents of their friends and family. This teaches your child to focus on the positive instead of the negative.
Foster logical thinking. Intolerance often comes from false beliefs. Don’t let your child grow up believing everything they hear. They should be able to evaluate statements, analyze facts and create their own opinions rather than relying on ideas presented by others. They should be independent thinkers.
Our children are the future. A generation full of open-minded people can change absolutely the world.
