Gentleness makes you emotionally stronger. Learning how to treat someone or something with gentleness results in strengthening other characteristics.

When treating another person or object with gentleness, you use your consideration and thoughtfulness. Protecting fragile and delicate things is a warmhearted choice to make.

You are mindfulness of how you are treating another person or object and that’s an attractive quality. You are creating a sense of safety that others feel in your presence.

Living mindfully helps you to become more thoughtful and considerate regarding people and things. Applying care, compassion, empathy and understanding supports you to live with integrity.

Displaying gentleness shows your positive heartfelt emotions towards objects or people.

There’s a quote by Phaedrus that says ‘Gentleness is the antidote for cruelty’. Growing up with siblings or a pet is an opportunity to learn how to be gentle, with a baby brother or sister, or the family pet.

I grew up with younger brothers and sisters. When the new baby came home it was exciting. Being allowed to hold them was even more exciting. As long as we treated them gently of course! Holding a new baby was an honour. Even if it did mean having to sit on the lounge next to a parent who was watching over us both carefully. Additional additions to the family, such as a new puppy also required the practice of gentleness.

The opposite of being gentle is people who like to do harm to others and take things out on others. Some people like to feel a sense of control over others. Gentleness is a trait that seems to be lacking. Examples would be domestic violence, and mistreating animals.

Learning to respect all living things, whether it be people, animals or plants is another positive outcome of a child’s development.

Everyone is capable of being gentle, even though someone may be displaying frustration, anger and loudness it doesn’t mean that they are not capable of being gentle. Environments which encourage gentleness help people to feel safe.

Positive behaviour towards each other meant growing up and constantly being told to be gentle and kind.

Continuously being reminded to share with my siblings, to be mindful of my language and be kind to my siblings were reminders to treat others kindly and gently at all times.

As young children, teachings were instilled through steady repeated reminders. Additionally, while also being expected to adhere (or else!) we were taught to think of others and not be self-absorbed by our own wants and needs.

Steering negative behaviour towards positive behaviour may seem like you are a repetitive record. The trick is using your gentleness and stating yourself kindly, but firmly.

Whatever you want your children to learn is what they must see you practice. Children do what they see, they don’t do what you say.