Embracing the Weird
Growing up I was the weird kid. I was way too into Halloween and horror movies. I dressed different than everyone else in the small town I grew up in. I was way more into art and music than I was into sports. I haven't changed much since then. I own a strange and unusual tea shop. I made my entire career based off of what a lot of people consider to be "weird." So in our household I encourage my son to do the same thing. I want him to embrace his individuality even if it means he's not following the "trends" or what people consider "cool." So how do you encourage your kids to stay quirky in a conformist world and why is it important?
I strongly believe that embracing your child's individuality helps them develop a strong sense of self, confidence and resilience. Children who are encouraged to be "different: develop skills like critical thinking and creativity. They have autonomy. When they are allowed to make their own decisions and choices it helps them develop a sense of control over their lives, leading to increased satisfaction and reduced stress.
You can support this by simple actions like giving them a chance to try new things. Let them experiment with different classes, extracurricular activities and hobbies. Let them experiment with different looks. As much as it might pain you to see your child wear clothes that don't match: let them! Let them express themselves. I also promise you that when they become teenagers, if they want to dye their hair funky colors or wear funky clothing they aren't going to be less successful at life. You can also just be comfortable with the fact that they might decide they don't like certain activities anymore and move on from them for good.
Kids are constantly growing and changing. Let them. They don't have to fit into a certain box.
Cheers,
<3 Bri