Mom and dad, what are you doing to help your children develop maturity? It’s a question worth answering because children don’t develop maturity on their own. They have to be taught.
To that end, my wife and I enrolled our boys, Trent and Troy, in something called Cotillion. It’s all about teaching manners and preparing kids to interact with others as mature young men and women. The boys were apprehensive, but I assured them, “Don’t worry, guys. They’ll mostly teach you table manners.”
Boy, was I wrong. In fact, a good portion of the experience was about ballroom style dancing. My boys were mortified. I still remember my oldest son, Trent, glaring at me from across the room, his eyes saying, “Wait until I get a hold of you, Dad.”
Fortunately, it all turned out for the best. Those uncomfortable moments contributed to Trent’s growth as much as the formal lessons. It was the first time he had to hold a girl’s hand and introduce her to an adult. Later, Trent told me, “That’s where I learned how to shake someone’s hand properly and look an adult in the eye.”
You may not have your child develop manners and maturity in a formal setting like that. And that’s okay. Just create those types of experiences at home, at church, or with friends and family. It’ll instill them with confidence today and prepare them for their future.