The Importance of Aunts and Uncles in a Child’s Development
By: Jordan Garrison
It is commonly said that it takes a village to raise a child, but who is considered the “village”?
As someone who has nieces and nephews, I am constantly reminded on how important it is to make sure that I have a presence in their lives. It is not surprising that children need a positive male and female role model to help them develop into the person they are meant to become.
The impact of a supportive adult that is not the child’s mother or father is beneficial to the child’s development. Normally the person who plays this role is an aunt or an uncle. Both aunts and uncles are a magnificent blend of a parent and a friend to the child. As the child grows, they are provided the opportunity to learn many different things. As the child might feel pressured by a parent, they have more freedom to discover and flourish with the presence of their aunt or uncle.
An aunt and uncle’s relationship with their niece/nephew severs as a trusted mentor of the child to whom they can turn to when their parents are unavailable. This can be in a physical, mental, or emotional nature. Creating a safe space and a special bond with the child is the best way for them to develop in the highest capacity.
When the child spends time with their trusted aunt or uncle away from their parents, the child can become more liberated and feel safe to express themselves in a way that can be perceived without judgement. While the mother-daughter or father-son relationship experience ups and downs on a regular basis, the relationship between the aunt/uncle and their niece/nephew can remain steady as they do not have to be strict and enforce any parenting style.
Ways to become the positive role in the child’s life includes staring the bond with your niece or nephew in their early stages in life, be sure to get involved in their life, discover their interests, and share them together, find time to play together, and be their safety net by providing a safe space for the child.
Overall, aunts and uncles are a great asset to provide a quasi-parenthood role, meaning that they are a perfect fit for raising the child and shaping them to become outstanding adults. They also benefit by building a strong relationship between aunt/uncle and niece/nephew.
OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT
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