Children have been told ‘because I said so,’ for a long time, yet involving them in healthy discussions helps them listen to the views of others and know that people can think differently, and that that’s ok too.
They’ll gain a lot of life skills from having the freedom to express their thoughts – let's see how:
It will give them a feeling of safety and security
Sharing ideas supports them to build secure attachments with one or more familiar people. They’ll learn about expressing their feelings and ideas openly, as well as how to establish and maintain respectful, trusting relationships.
It’ll help them develop independence and resilience
Exchanging ideas can support your child in working closely or teaming up with others more effectively, which in turn helps them find out about negotiations in play. It helps them think for themselves and learn that their opinion matters. They’ll also find out that sometimes their thoughts and ideas might not always work in situations and learn to deal with how that feels in the moment.
And gain an understanding of how to interact with others with care, empathy and respect
Sharing ideas allows your child to communicate a wide range of feelings, thoughts and viewpoints effectively. It helps them get better at thinking about their actions and what this might mean for others.
Expressing thoughts and ideas helps children to build friendships
When your child feels confident to say how they feel, it helps learn about who they are and where they fit in the world. Knowing what their own interests are may help them to start conversations with others, especially when they enjoy the same things. Having this skill could help a small group of children to support each other’s learning and help strengthen the bond between them.
And build a sense of belonging
Through group play experiences, your child will learn how to interact with others and negotiate roles. These occasions offer your child opportunities to gain a sense of belonging to a group and form relationships with others. When they feel a sense of belonging, play feels open and collaborative, and your child may feel safer sharing their ideas with a group of friends who know them well.