Welcome to the Chinese zodiac for kids and parents!
About the Ox Child
A person of unassuming and unimpeachable character, your self-reliant Ox child will from a young age find his own unerring inner compass, charting his straight-and-narrow path forward. Never one to be a crybaby or tantrum-thrower, the Ox possesses the stamina, impressive self-confidence, and willpower to go far in life. While not tremendously talkative or demonstrative, these tykes are obedient, almost to a fault — make sure you establish sharp borders between right and wrong, because these children will tend to follow your example unquestioningly, even when your example falls shy of “right.” Needy emotional wrecks need not apply when it comes to parenting the Ox child, as these tots tend to develop as rugged individualists who will go with the flow you establish but choose to assert an independence that may in some ways thwart the more smothering instincts some parents employ to raise their offspring.
Know that this child naturally shields his feelings from inquiry and outside examination — as his parent you will need to know that he will not readily or comfortably reveal his emotions, choosing instead to “soldier on” even when deeply wounded by the slings and arrows of childhood fortune. Naïve in many ways, this dear child will rely on you to provide authentic moral support to soothe his wounds. Socially, this calm, fair-minded, and dependable soul is the glue that seamlessly binds his set of friends. One thing is for sure: This forthright and modest child will inspire in you a fierce pride for his sterling character and many accomplishments.
Personality Traits
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Natural Gifts
This child possesses a “strong as an ox” constitution, and will rarely succumb to even a minor case of the sniffles, let alone be plagued by recurring illness.
The Ox native is assured prosperity by virtue of his unflagging fortitude and ethic of disciplined hard work — perhaps not the flashiest of individuals, he is the long-haul type frequently invested with unwavering trust and authority within his group (and, later, professional organizations). The Ox child will evince a quiet innate self-confidence from an early age, and one of his most sterling qualities is his constitutional honesty — peers and adults alike will prize him for his lack of pretension and committed devotion to deeply held principles.
Making Friends
As jealously as he guards his own privacy, the Ox will protect a friend’s secrets and confidences to the death — we all need a friend like that! As in most important areas of life, the Ox takes the formation of friendships seriously, and dedication to them even more seriously. Slower and more cautious to form bonds of all types, the Ox child and adult is the most faithful of companions.
Best bets for playmates and partners: The witty Rooster will bring a dash of fun to the serious Ox’s well-ordered life, while sharing a similar esteem for duty and efficiency; the companionable Rat and self-disciplined Snake will feel a strong and instant allegiance to the stalwart Ox. On the less compatible end of the spectrum, the Dog will fail to respond to the self-effacing charms of the Ox, finding him utterly lacking in humor; and the capricious Sheep and unpredictable Tiger will just give the Ox an ulcer!
Learning
Teachers will naturally adore your little Ox, due to his natural acceptance of and accordance to classroom routines and discipline. These children have too much self-containment to indulge in classroom hijinks or disruptions, and that’s something every teacher appreciates! His no-nonsense approach to life will mean that he takes learning seriously, and he will apply himself accordingly, requiring mostly his own initiative to perform to the best of his ability. Through a strong desire to prove his worthiness to himself and to others, he will achieve in even the most demanding of academic settings.
Parenting the Ox Child
Help create a stepping stool from of a stumbling block: If there were an Olympic event for grudge-holding, an Ox would win without breaking a sweat. Prideful and overly sensitive to slights, they disdain weakness in themselves and in others and can create such an extreme habit of self-reliance that they become essentially allergic to asking for or graciously receiving the help and advice of others. As the parent of this little paragon of virtues, your job is to help cultivate a strong and authentic spirit of compassionate consideration and understanding for others — their strengths and their human frailties.
Flattery will get you nowhere: Dispense with any notions that heaping empty or effusive appreciation on your Ox child will result in anything but annoyance on his part — these children do not require flattery to do their best every time.
Don’t try his patience! You won’t find a sign that is more even-keeled in the zodiac, but don’t take this personality trait for granted! When an Ox loses his temper, the effects can be stunning for all parties involved. Once he blows his stack — and it will take a lot to get him to the eruption point — there will be no reasoning with him. You will need to give him wide berth until he has a chance to recover his cool. Just as important to realize is that your little Ox will tend most often to suffer in silence, shouldering his concerns and problems without complaint or visible signs of distress. Be very attuned to these hard-to-read signs.
Be ready to present your case: Whether or not you are yourself wired this way (perhaps more to the point, especially if you are not wired this way yourself), know that your wee Ox is a “head over heart” type. When issues arise, keep in mind that your best approach to reaching this child is through an appeal to his natural sense of reason and fair play. Taking a heavy emotional tack will only lead you out to sea alone — the Ox is an emotional landlubber.
Become a creature of habit, even if you’re naturally a creature of chaos: Your Ox child derives his sense of stability and security from well-established routines. He will not resist household rules and in fact will welcome and adhere to your established family schedule and routine happily and readily. Even if it is not your inclination, regularity is the watchword for the Ox, and as the adult in the relationship it is yours to institute — observance of family traditions, big and small, and an established household routine will give the Ox child much peace and security.
