Challenges in Nurturing Children through a Holistic Approach

Parenting is a unique journey filled with challenges, joys, and endless lessons. As we strive to nurture our children, it’s crucial to adopt a holistic approach—one that encompasses their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. In this art

What is Holistic Development?
Holistic development refers to nurturing a child in all aspects, including physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and language abilities. These areas are interconnected and can significantly impact one another. Holistic development emphasizes the need to support every facet of a child's growth to help them achieve a happy and balanced life. 

Holistic development has been gaining momentum globally; however, this concept remains misunderstood in our country, largely due to cultural and social influences. Some common misunderstandings include:
Overemphasis on Academic Excellence: Whenever a child's academic performance sheet is issued and spreads across social media, particularly on Facebook, a stir is often seen. Many parents mistakenly place too much importance on academic excellence, often at the expense of crucial areas of development, such as emotional well-being, social skills, and physical health (growth doesn’t always equate to height).

Limited Exposure: Some parents may shield their children from fully experiencing and learning from diverse perspectives, raising them with a narrow instructional base rather than allowing them to observe and engage with the world. This limited exposure can hinder socialemotional development. I once met a girl in UKG who refrained from participating in school extracurricular activities because her parents feared it would cause her physical stress. Many parents overvalue their love and care to the extent that they shield their children from discomfort, inadvertently stunting their opportunities for exploration and growth.

Neglecting Emotional Health: Emotional wellbeing is often overlooked as families prioritize success in various areas. While children are taught how to read, write, and dress, less attention is given to helping them manage and express their emotions. Learning to handle stress, happiness, success, and failure is crucial. Emotions are not inherently good or bad; they are simply feelings that need to be acknowledged. Suppressing emotional expression can lead to issues that hinder the ability to build healthy relationships.

Unbending Expectations: Society and culture today impose many expectations on children, particularly regarding school performance and behavior. High expectations can add stress and pressure, adversely affecting overall growth. A sixth-grade student shared that her parents want her to become a doctor, restricting her social interactions and subjecting her to emotional blackmail if her friends or neighbors engage in socially or culturally unacceptable actions. She expressed feeling lost and questioning her identity.

Exposure to the Internet: With widespread access to the internet, excessive screen time can impede a child's holistic development. The constant distractions and stimulation from technology can hinder concentration, critical thinking, and social skills. This isolation can have long-lasting effects on a child's emotional well-being, academic performance, and overall development.

The holistic development of an individual requires opportunities to explore various dimensions of life, face challenges across different domains, and engage with diverse perspectives. Without such exposure, development can become one-sided, leaving individuals ill-prepared for life's challenges.

Creating opportunities to combat limited exposure includes providing an environment that encourages exploration, diversity, and growth across all life areas. This approach will help foster a more balanced and rounded development for children.

By: Pratima Lama, Co-founder and Trainer of Smart parenting Nepal, has 10 years of experience in parenting education. She is a certified trainer of ChildSafeNet and a facilitator of the International Child Development Program. She has worked in school consulting for 5 years and holds a post-graduate diploma in counseling psychology.