MILESTONE 6: LET YOUR CHILD FEEL HIS IMPORTANCE

A child is a small man, but he has inside him all the needs, feelings, and prestige of a 'big' man. He appreciates those who give them attention, and hates those who neglect them. They (kids) remember -throughout their life- those who gave them hard time in their childhood. I still remember my 'good' teachers, and my 'bad' awful teachers. 

Our Prophet -peace be upon him- when passing by a group of kids playing, used to greet them and give them salam. Once someone gave the Prophet a bowl of Milk while he was sitting with his companions. To his next right-side there was a kid, and to his left-side there were senior people. The ruling is to start with the right. The Prophet -peace be upon him- (after drinking himself a little) sought the permission of the kid to start from left. The kid refused, the Prophet had no choice! (this hadeeth is in Bukhari and Muslim).

Before the death of our Prophet -peace be upon him- he arranged an army to march towards the Roman empire. The leader of the army was a young teenager -Osama ibn Zaid.

On the night of the migration to Medina, the Prophet -peace be upon him- let a young teenager (Ali ibn Abi Taleb) to sleep in his bed, a dangerous and responsible position in a very critical moment.

We parents consider our kids un-mature and refuse to give them responsibilities, and promote all kind of luxury to them, thinking they are still young. This is wrong. A kid when given responsibilities grows with a spirit full of challenge and considers himself important and, it sharpens their inner skills.