Reem Raouda is quickly becoming a leading voice in the parenting world’s growing movement of conscious parenting. As a mom and a professional, she’s researched more than 200 parent-child interactions. She argues that the self-connection is key to raising confident, emotionally healthy children. Raouda is the creator of two transformative journals: FOUNDATIONS and BOUND. These resources are designed to help parents learn how to provide their children with the tools they need to build healthy emotional development.
Her journal FOUNDATIONS: An Adult’s Guide to Building a Safe, Healing Environment for Children is a 10-part healing guide that helps basic parents get their emotional centers of safety back. BOUND is a sacred connection journal created to help establish and maintain a lifelong bond of trust between parents and their children. It deepens their connection in only a few minutes per day. Raouda’s approach highlights what happens when you meet parents where they’re at. It creates a constructive space that allows kids to identify and address their feelings.
The Importance of Self-Connection
Self-connection according to Raouda is necessary for children. This is about listening to and connecting with themselves— their emotions, their needs, their inner voice. This skill is a prerequisite for emotional regulation and healthy relationships in adulthood. Parents frequently and unwittingly do this by downplaying their kids’ emotions. Raouda urges parents to replace responses like “You’re fine” with empathetic statements such as, “That was upsetting, wasn’t it? I’m here.”
In this way, parents are validating their child’s feelings, which can motivate kids to share openly and honestly. This practice creates a non-judgmental space that encourages children to feel safe discussing and examining their feelings, resulting in more emotionally intelligent kids.
“All of me is welcome.” – Unknown Source
In her work, Raouda makes it clear that in order to heal, we have to recognize all the feelings. Kids should feel like their feelings are important to them and that they can express them without the threat of ridicule. When a parent first names an emotion, it often feels empowering for both the parent and child, forming a deeper emotional bond.
Practical Choices for Children
Raouda further emphasizes the importance of offering age-appropriate options to kids, enabling them to cultivate independence and learn how to make informed decisions. Simple options such as picking outfits, managing sibling dynamics, or deciding how to spend afternoons can significantly contribute to a child’s sense of agency.
By involving kids in these smaller decisions, parents teach children about being responsible and the idea that their choices have consequences. This practice supports their voice by teaching them to identify what they want and need while building their confidence and self-value. Raouda says, “You’re so intentional with your friends. Complimenting children on their healthy interactions inspires them to continue fostering valuable connections.
“I’m feeling overwhelmed. I need to take a deep breath.” – Parent
Parents can further encourage emotional awareness in their children by modeling the practice themselves through sharing their feelings with their kids. Phrases such as “I’m really stressed out” open the door for conversations around feelings and how to manage them. In turn, when parents open up, they model vulnerability and help show children how to express feelings in healthy ways.
Resources for Conscious Parenting
Raouda’s work is readily accessible through her website, https://www.highloveparenting.com/, where parents can find valuable resources on conscious parenting. Her journal FOUNDATIONS is available on Amazon, while BOUND can be purchased at https://getboundjournal.com/. Accessible and engaging, these journals offer evidence-based support to guide parents through impactful exercises designed to deepen their emotional bond with their children.
Raouda researches and writes to empower parents. Her mission is to arm those parents with the information and skills to help them raise the most emotionally healthy kids. In a world where emotional well-being is paramount, her insights are increasingly relevant for families looking to navigate parenting challenges.