“Little Pieces of Advice”

As Araz Supermarket Chain, we’ve prepared “Little Pieces of Advice” in collaboration with expert psychiatrist Aydan Isgandarzade, dedicated to International Children’s Day.
We hope these tips will help you in supporting your child’s development, behavior, education, and eating habits.

1. Basic Needs in Personality Formation

The early childhood period (ages 0–2) is critical for laying the foundation of a child’s personality. This is when the first emotional and communication bonds are built. A child under two needs to feel the warmth, love, and calming presence of their primary caregiver (usually the mother). If they don't experience this, they may develop negative perceptions of the world, such as:

• “The world is chaotic and untrustworthy.”
• “I am unsafe and weak.”
• “I am worthless and unloved.”
• “The world is a dangerous place.”

Children who form secure attachments are generally more confident, communicative, and emotionally expressive.
Secure attachment also fosters a more positive view of both self and others, which directly influences a child’s future relationships.

Key Needs of a Child:

1. Touch: Praise your child, hug them, encourage them, and give warm, attentive reactions like “Well done, try again!”
2. Security: Protect their health, meet daily needs, and provide food, clothing, and safety.
3. Structure: Set boundaries, guide behavior, model what is acceptable, and maintain consistency.
4. Socialization: Recognize and validate emotions, spend time with them, and act as a bridge to the outside world.
5. Emotional Expression: Help your child identify emotions like pain, joy, and excitement through play and appropriate activities.
6. Sense of Worth: Make your child feel important and loved for who they are, not only what they do.

When these needs go unmet, the child may feel unimportant and seek attention through inappropriate behaviors. The two critical elements of parenting are love and discipline. How these are balanced determines much of the child’s future behavior.

2. Secure, Tolerant, and Democratic Parenting

Children should receive unconditional love.
Democratic parents treat their children with respect and do not compare them to siblings. They allow children to express themselves and develop their unique abilities. Rather than enforcing strict rules, they establish principles and explain the reasons behind them. This encourages self-discipline and fosters independent, confident, and responsible individuals.

Children are included in decision-making, and harmony exists between parents. Children raised in such environments grow up with strong values, self-respect, and social awareness.

3. "When Should I Start Educating My Child?"

A woman once asked a Chinese teacher:
 “When should I start educating my child?”
The teacher responded with another question:
“When is your child due to be born?”
Confused, the woman replied:
“My child is already 4 or 5 years old.”
The teacher then said:
“In that case, you’re already late!”

Most families begin investing in education from primary school, but 75% of personality development occurs before school age, especially during the first 6 years. Investing during this early phase is the most impactful.

4. Harmful Parenting Styles That Lead to Negative Behaviors

❌ Inconsistent Parenting:

• Rules are unclear; parents often contradict each other.
• One parent says “no,” while the other says “yes.”
• This leads to confusion, insecurity, and difficulty distinguishing right from wrong.

❌ Overprotective Parenting:

• Parents are overly anxious and control every aspect of the child’s life.
• Children grow up lacking self-confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills.

❌ Neglectful Parenting:

• Parents fail to meet the emotional and physical needs of the child.
• Leads to developmental issues, poor immunity, speech problems, and even antisocial behavior.

❌ Authoritarian Parenting:

• Frequent punishments, often disproportionate.
• Children grow up afraid, withdrawn, and lacking confidence.
• Rules are rigid; love is shown only as a reward.

❌ Overly Permissive Parenting:

• The child sets the rules; no structure or discipline is provided.
• Children may become selfish, socially maladapted, and expect special treatment from everyone.

5. Tips for Building Healthy Eating Habits

To avoid mealtime struggles as your child develops their eating habits, try these suggestions:

1. Respect your child’s appetite — don’t force them to eat.
2. Keep mealtimes consistent — avoid too many snacks, juice, or milk before meals.
3. Teach them to recognize hunger — explain feelings like “this means you’re hungry.”
4. Introduce new foods gradually — serve alongside familiar favorites.
5. Don’t cook separate meals on request — it encourages picky eating.
6. Make meals fun — get creative with presentation, sauces, and let them help.
7. Cook together — let them help choose and prepare food.
8. Be a role model — eat healthy foods yourself.
9. Be creative — mix disliked foods into soups, salads, or pasta.
10. No screens at the table — avoid distractions during meals.
11. Avoid using sweets as a reward — it sends the message that sweets are better than healthy food.

Eating habits won’t change overnight, but small daily steps can support long-term healthy nutrition. And remember — children’s preferences often change!