The Second Form of True Love: Appreciation| Appreciating a Child’s Efforts

Guiding with love—A small accident becomes a lesson in honesty, responsibility, and compassion. 💛✨

When my daughter Jenny was five years old, she once carried a small plate from the kitchen but lost her grip, dropping it and shattering it on the floor. She burst into tears and said, "Mom, I broke the plate."

I asked her gently, "Sweetheart, are you okay? Did you get hurt? Stay where you are so you don’t step on any broken pieces." She obediently stood still while I quickly cleaned up the mess. Then, I picked her up and carried her out of the kitchen.

She was still upset, repeatedly apologising and blaming herself for breaking the plate. I told her, "Sweetheart, you immediately told me what happened. That was very honest of you, and you bravely took responsibility. That is a very courageous and accountable thing to do. The plate can be replaced, but what truly matters is that you are not hurt. We can always practice being more careful and mindful in the future."

She looked at me, half-understanding, and then nodded before wrapping her arms around me in a hug.

Later, I noticed that Jenny became incredibly considerate of others. Whenever something unexpected happened or someone seemed unwell, she would be the first to ask, "Are you okay?" and stay by their side. She was always eager to help her classmates at school, and many children adored her for her kindness.

Through appreciation, children learn that their emotions matter to their parents more than material losses. This positive feedback helps them internalise values, empathise with others, and become compassionate. Appreciation can reinforce a child’s value and willingness to learn and grow from mistakes.

When we choose appreciation over blame, we teach our children to value honesty, responsibility, and kindness—not just in moments of success, but especially in moments of mistake.

If you want to nurture this kind of deep emotional growth in your family, explore our Innovative Family Education approach. It’s a gentle, wisdom-based path for raising compassionate and resilient children

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