When we sow any seed. We wait everyday for the sapling to come out of it. When it comes out of the soil, it is very delicate and soft. We regularly water it, give it fertilizers but more than this it needs our care and attention. We need to protect it and do periodic pruning also which makes it strong. In a couple of years, the soft , delicate sapling converts into a giant strong tree laden with fruits and flowers. Everyone wants to sit beneath its shade and it is a habitat of many birds and insects. When one remembers about the seed and the contribution one made towards its growth a person is full of satisfaction and love for it. The emotion of nurturing anyone can never be explained. It is such a pleasure.
Similarly being a parent of a child is also a boon. It is such a blessing to see a small child taking birth. It looks like a magic when we see the journey of a child. It really took lot of efforts to teach basics even like how to attend nature calls, how to eat, gulp or swallow food. How to interact with elders, youngers and friends. Then comes the time of real education where the main responsibility of parents start. For them the challenge is what is real growth and how to accomplish it for their child so that they can do something worthwhile for themselves as well as for the humanity.
Growth means development. If anything increases in shape, size and number, we call it growth. But in case of human, the definition of growth is not so simple and easy. If a child has gained height, we can not say it is a real growth. Yes it can be termed as physical growth but we as human have the responsibility to work in all dimensions that is physical growth, mental growth and spiritual growth. If any individual is not working for all three growths then life can never be complete. Hence parents are there to teach the children and help them to grow in all 3 spheres of growth. Let us discuss them in detail and the ways to achieve it.
Real physical growth means fully developed and functional organs, good condition of all sense organs, strength, immunity and stamina. For maintaining this we should teach our childrenproper selection of food. We should teach them the art of balancing taste with nutritious food. If this thing is developed from an early age then it becomes their habits and such good habits saves them from future ailments.
Mental growth means stable, calm mind. Rich flourished brain structure having lot of neurons resulting in sharp intelligence, high emotional quotient, learning quotient, adversity quotient and intelligence quotient. Problem solving abilities also come through this. Good mental health can be achieved by developing habit of yoga, pranayama, visualizations and meditations. Different games should also be played to enhance all this. In addition to this we require pure water and brain foods. Foods which has the property of antioxidants can be called as brain foods. Nuts, fruits like apple, kiwi fall under this category.
Now comes the third one which we call as spiritual growth.in this modern era however this is a contradictory term but in reality we are on this planet earth for this only. This we can call as the purpose of the human life. This can be taught to the children by making them more and more curious. If we want our child to grow spiritually then it is required to develop scientific temperament in their children which means habit of researching, exploring, finding answers without getting tired of the repetitive efforts or failures. The habit of trying again and again until and unless success is achieved. The habit of persistent efforts, asking questions, faith, believing in things, surrendering attitude opens new doors of success in both this world as well as spiritual world.
Hence if a parent in focused on all the growths then the child gets not only materialistic success but also happy, healthy body with spiritual success. And in all this parents play a very vital role indeed.