Nurturing Open-Mindedness in Children Embracing Growth and Progress

Many of us grew up believing that we should be set in our ways, whether right or wrong. Some people are convinced that their way is the only right way and are unwilling to entertain other suggestions or ideas unless faced with a roadblock. This closed-minded approach hinders progress and advancement in all areas of life. Thus, the question I pose to you now is: How are you nurturing open-mindedness in your child, guided by sound values?

To emphasise the importance of openness, let me share three stories that drive home this point. The first story is personal, related to my children. While all my children have good technical skills, one of them, whom I’ll refer to as Child 1, is exceptionally passionate and talented. I often turn to Child 1 to help me with technical matters. One day, Child 1 was sealing some items, confident with the abilities to handle the task. However, a sibling, Child 2, offered some tips to ensure consistent and effective sealing. Unfortunately, Child 1 declined the offer, believing that everything is under control.

As a learning opportunity, I allowed Child 1 to proceed alone. Child 1 encountered a challenge and realised some items were not properly sealed, I asked Child 2 to lend a helping hand. During our discussion afterward, I stressed to my children that even experts in a particular area can benefit from being open-minded and learning from others. I reminded Child 1 that, in the past, Child 2 had worked with me and learned how to manage the intricacies of sealing different items. The lesson here is that openness to learning from others can lead to better outcomes.

Moving into the realm of faith, consider the process of creating a woman, as recorded in religious texts. While the initial creation involved putting the man to sleep and waking up to find a woman, their children were born through pregnancy and childbirth. Despite the change in the process, they remained open-minded and embraced the new approach.

From a scientific perspective, I listened to a BBC Radio 4 program where Prof. Jane Hurst mentioned something that resonated with me. In scientific research, mice play a crucial role, especially in medicine and drug development. Prof. Hurst found that picking up mice by the tail induces aversion and anxiety, compromising the welfare of the mice and affecting scientific outcomes. Her open-mindedness to alternative handling methods led to improved scientific results.

Likewise, your child needs openness, and you can nurture this attribute as they grow. It won’t happen overnight, but small steps can make a difference. Like the example with my children, you can use everyday situations to talk about the value of approaching things with an open mind guided by sound values. Encourage your child to be receptive to new ideas, learn from others, and embrace change when it leads to progress and growth.