As a child, your social development starts with having the space to get to know yourself in the presence of your parents, brothers and/or sisters, and family. As a child, you need people who are like you so you can mirror yourself. From that recognition, you learn to trust and how to push your boundaries, helping you get to know yourself better and better. In interaction with the people closest to you as a child, you get to experience that you are valuable to others. That you are allowed to be who you are and that there are other people who are like you. That is how you gradually build a healthy self-image. As a child, you learn to live together as the person who you are. That is the foundation you can build on, taking further steps and meeting people as equals, even those who look very different from you. If from birth you can experience being valued equally, without feeling threatened or threatening others in their being, you can stand in your strength and meet strangers as equals. This way, as a child, you find your path (Tao), in balance (Yin & Yang), and without force (Wu wei).
In today’s society, building a healthy self-image as a child is not a given for every child, even if you grow up in a loving family. It is no longer a given that you can quietly grow up in the family you were born into during your early years. More and more parents are both working, which means that as a child, you quickly notice that there is not always time to grow up close to your own parents and other family members, to reflect, build trust from recognition, and push your boundaries. Some children still find quite a few children at school who are like them, but that is not the case for every child. From the group that finds a lot of peers at school, little adaptability is required. For the group of children who might not have any peers in the class, a lot of adaptability is needed. These children are at a higher risk of experiencing social exclusion. (Exceptionally) gifted children do not always fit in at school. If there is also little room within the family for the child to build a healthy self-image for practical reasons, it can be even harder for the child to cope with a large group where they do not really fit in.
- Trias Vita coaches (exceptionally) gifted children and youngsters from an ecosystemic Taoist perspective to help them develop a healthy self-image. You can find more info about this here;
- In the fall of 2026, Trias Vita will also start an (online) course on how to support a child’s development without punishing or rewarding them. You can find more info about this here;
- At the end of August 2026, Trias Vita will start new ‘Natural Oasis’ groups. Children aged 3 to 5 will discover, through play, who they are in relation to themselves and others.
If you are interested in coaching, the (online) course, or ‘Natural Oasis’, email Trias Vita.
Trias Vita is a centre for lifelong development that supports children and young people to develop in connection with themselves, others, and the natural environment from an ecosystemic Taoist life perspective: finding your path (Tao) in balance (Yin & Yang) and without force (Wu wei).
Any questions? Mail to info@triasvita.com.
More about Trias Vita on this website.
Vicki Van Lommel, founder Trias Vita