Greetings to every Steemian, I am pleased to participate in this contest organized by @sahmie about Nurturing the Little Lives, this is an experience everyone who have children will love to share. I am happy to share mind in this contest. Welcome to my blog. Indeed raising happy, healthy, and thriving little children is not a little or minor task. It is a huge responsibility that you must be fully prepared before you embark on as a parent. It is a wrong perception to say "born the children God will take care of them". Yes God will take care of them, still as a parent the sole responsibility of catering for those little ones right from day one to their maturity is completely your obligation. This is a huge financial responsibility. Providing money to care for a child's material needs is still not enough, you must strike the balance of creating your constant presence to improve in their mental and emotional well-being.

To encourage healthy eating habits in children while making it fun and enjoyable first begins right from the first day the child is born. Hospitals have recommended exclusive breastfeeding to mothers. This is more healthy and enjoyable food for a new born baby because it is natural and cannot easily be contaminated thereby causing ill health to the child.

Breast milk is produced from natural food consumed by the mother. When the child is six months old which is the period food should be introduced to the child, natural food that is eaten by the parents should be given to the child. Yes the child might not be able to eat such food to the point of satisfaction, home made cereals and pap can be given to the child.

Canned food should not be considered as a major food for the child. Sugary, drinks, biscuits and sweets should not be given to the child as well. Instead juice made from natural fruits, cracker biscuits and more natural foods should be given to the child right from early stage of introducing natural food to the child.

To make the meal enjoyable for the child, sweet rhymes and praising the child for eating will make eating fun and enjoyable. I have seen many parents force food into their children while the child cry throughout the period of eating. I know children are different, yet there are better ways to encourage them to eat. Like my child, I never forced her to eat her food, instead, I have a way of praising her and clapping hands for her for every food she accepts and swallow. Those praises, songs and clapping of hands for the child make them feel that eating is not a punishment rather should be enjoyable.

Your constant presence in their lives, giving them a listening ear, most especially as they are learning to talk. I have seen many parents shut in their little children when they are learning to express themselves in the name of they talk too much. When a child is trying to tell you something and you shut in that child, you have tempered with the child's confidence. Let them say whatever they may want to say and however they can express themselves before you start correcting them the right way to say it. Do not abandone your children in the hands of your caregiver or relatives thinking that they are reliable. Majority of them meddle with your children's emotion in your absence. Always create time to interact and converse with them. It boosts their self confidence and wellbeing. Learn to be the first and the best friend of your children, this will make them confide in you rather than a stranger who may in turn be a prey.

Every child learn by example, just like my baby, she is feeding her child the same way she watches us feed her. Consistently washing your hands every time you return from outside and also reminding them to do same will unconsciously become part of them. The same with brushing of mouth, cutting of nails, bathing and washing of clothes. Most parents do not allow their wards to wash their clothes even when they are 7 - 10 years old. As little as my child was when she started walking. Any time she sees us washing she will always bring her potty and be dipping her hands inside the washing bathe. We do not stop her, rather we will give her either her pant or sucks and show her how to scrub and wash. I saw a 10 year old boy in my school that does not know how to sweep the floor. If you ask him to sweep he struggles like my baby who is learning to sweep at 2 years and 6 months. When any child makes effort to help out in any cleaning or house chores, instead of stopping them allow them and encourage them with praise word and show them how to do well.

Discover your child's area of creativity. Create the enabling environment to nurture the child's creativity and imagination. To create such environment, expose the child to learning diverse skills such as sewing, carpentry, shoe making, coding, singing, etc. or what ever the child may have passion or interest in. This is in addition to quality education.

Both parents must not be involved in a job that makes them return home only after the children are deep asleep. One of the parents must always be available at most from quarter or half of the day with the children. For the other busy parent always create time once or twice in a week to be with your children. Maintain constant and consistence interaction with your wards by communicating with them. Asking questions, telling them to talk to you about anything. Consistently give them a listening ear. Share the word of God, pray with and for them. Recite the scriptures with them. Above all always speak to them in a friendly manner.

I invite my friends @wakeupkitty, @hudamalik20 and @bela90 to participate in the contest.

My Introductory Post