I am a parent (stay-at-home dad) of two boys (10 and 14 years old). Best advice that I can give is ‘attachment parenting’ and teaching/encouraging ‘emotional intelligence’. Those two were the most recommended by the top child psychologists on Earth.
Both boys have been in gifted and talented programs (without any parental pressure) for many years and are on track to receive full scholarships.
In short, we have talked to them about everything…talk talk and more talk…encourage them to talk about their feelings/emotions…if they feel ashamed about talking to their parents about something, then find someone (friend, family member, school counselor, etc) to talk about it.
From infancy until around the age of four, we would read to them. We’d sit in a chair, place them on our lap, hold the book open right in front of them and read. As they grew older we explained that there is a direct relationship between reading comprehension skills (critical thinking) and the amount of money one could earn in a career. Basically, we asked them: Do you want this type of mid-sized house/property, two cars, time off of work, pets, etc? -> Read and understand what you are reading.
That sounds like good advice. Have you seen it helping as your older one reaches his teens? I have an 8yo and 6yo and we are trying to do the same with ours.
This stuff, more than likely, saved his life recently.
He ‘cried out’ to his school counselor about suicidal ideations. We were called in to his school, had emergency/temporary mental health things put into place, learned that he was ‘on the spectrum’, got him connected with tele-health counselor. He’s had two sessions now and is very receptive and looks forward to further talks.
He’s, also, come out to me that he is bi-sexual.
Wow! That is all amazing. I wish my parents were taught this method when they were raising me. 14 was the toughest year for me as a kid. Same issues (although I was always heterosexual). Would have saved me years of pain.
Great job parenting! Keep it up!