Everything comes back to the fundamentals; the person you become, the way you behave as you grow up, it all comes back to how you were raised as a child. The values you grow up with are what define your character.

The bond a child and his parents share is sacred. Parents have the power to have a lasting impression on the child's psyche and can mould them to become the best possible version of themselves.

The following ten points are a guide that parents can find useful as they find themselves in the midst of raising the country's next generation.

• Dream big: Don't ever get stuck in the rooster coop they say. There is more to life than just chasing degrees and then later chasing a job. Encourage your child to dream big and to build a unique vision for his/her life.

• Significance: Another thing that parents should repeatedly remind their child is that in life, it's important to chase significance and not success. Having an impact on the world and positively improving the life of the people around you is of far greater importance than being in a rat race with the rest of the world.

• Fear: Failure is an essential part of the recipe known as life. School going children have the most impressionable minds, they should be taught from early on to not fear failure but to embrace it. Always winning isn't practical or logical, life isn't supposed to be too easy. Parents should make their child understand that winning is temporary and losing isn't permanent.

• Role model: Be the role model your children will look up to. Unknowingly children pick up a lot of things they see, hear, and then imbibe into their own personality. Be everything you want you to see in your child.

• Happiness: It's so easy yet people spend years trying to solve this seemingly tricky problem. Whatever the child wants to do with his/her life, parents should ensure that the child is pursuing their passion to fulfil not just their monetary aspirations but also to fulfil their innermost goals.

• Practice what you preach: Behave as you would have others behave, should be the mantra for parents as they raise their child.

• Be a friend first: Children tend to feel confused and most times, they need somebody they can talk to. They need a sense of security when they pour their hearts out. Being a good listener to your child goes a long way.

• Be real: Being realistic is what separates the best from the rest. Being real about life and having your own set of values to help you navigate your path is something that parents should help their children with.

• Being one with nature: We are a product of this planet, meditating, spending time in nature keeps the child humbled and centred on the things that matter most in life.

• Philanthropist: No matter who you are, you will always see people less fortunate than yourself. Being kind and helping the people around you is what makes us human. Parents should teach their child to be a philanthropist in their own capacity.

Life is never going to be predictable, it is going to be a chaotic mess at times but the child should be taught to deal with the difficulties life throws at him. The children of the now are the future of tomorrow. And if the youth of the country can be made into an army of smart, strong individuals then the future of the nation is in good hands.

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