The one thing children need for a happy and successful life, according to experts

Parents often look for ways to raise children to be happy and resilient.

While there is no perfect recipe for parenting, one thing is consistent – ​​unconditional love plays a key role in children's healthy emotional development, according to psychiatrist Elena Lister and psychologist Michael Schwartzman.

However, unconditional love doesn't mean approving every behavior, giving in without limits, or avoiding discipline. Instead, it's about sending a clear message to children that they are loved, even when parents set rules or express disagreement.

“It is important for children not to confuse parental anger with loss of love. When parents set a limit or are disappointed by a child’s actions, it is helpful to explicitly state: ‘I am angry about your actions, but I still love you.’” “Children often mistakenly conclude that parental anger means a loss of connection, which can affect their ability to understand relationships in the future. This clear communication helps them distinguish disagreement from rejection,” Lister and Schwartzman point out to Psychology Today.

Dealing with different expectations and disappointments is also part of parenting. Children don't always live up to their parents' wishes – they may not get high grades, they may not be interested in sports, or they may make decisions that don't align with their parents' values.

"But setting consequences for bad decisions and accepting children as they are are key steps towards a healthy relationship. Parents' disappointment often comes from their own unmet expectations, rather than from their children's real shortcomings," the psychiatrist and psychologist emphasizes.

Children will delight, surprise, and hurt their parents throughout their lives, but their uniqueness and imperfections make them who they are.

"Love them unconditionally through all the challenges and changes, because that's what helps them grow into the best version of themselves," Lister and Schwartzman concluded.