Every child is gifted in their way. Some are academically gifted while others are creatively gifted. It’s important to appreciate their uniqueness and empower them to strive for success. According to Psychologist Benjamin Bloom, almost all persons can learn something if provided with the right conditions to learn. As a parent, one of the best ways to do so is to nurture your child’s talent from a young age. However, the reality is many parents don’t have a clue how to nurture their child’s talent even if they want to. Here are some tips to guide you.
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Don’t Put Pressure On Your Children
While you may have your child’s best interest at heart and want to see them succeed, you mustn’t pressure them to do things that they don’t want or are not ready for. Some parents think that enrolling their children in many extracurricular activities will help them identify their talents. However, this will only stress the child out. Give them time and their talent will show itself.
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Praise Effort, Not Ability
Another mistake parents make is to congratulate their children only when they have a big achievement. You need to celebrate the small wins as much as the big wins. This is what gives your child motivation to keep going and practice more. If you don’t acknowledge their efforts, might feel like they’re not headed in the right direction. Praising effort can help your child develop a growth mindset and see challenges as opportunities to learn instead of failures. Compliments That Are Actually Harmful Or Not Beneficial To Children
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Provide A Conducive Environment
The environment your child grows up in matters a lot. Children express themselves more in a space that celebrates their creativity. You can decorate the house with artwork that expresses your creativity. Your child will be inspired by your passion giving them more motivation to work on their talent. You should also allow them to move around in a safe, clutter-free area with toys. This allows them to learn naturally which makes it more enjoyable.
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Set Learning Goals
Setting goals can help give your child a sense of purpose and feel accomplished when they achieve the goal. It also helps them be more productive and track their progress. However, it can be challenging for young children to set goals by themselves. You can brainstorm ideas together, create a vision board and come up with a reward system. When coming up with goals, try to ask them what they want to achieve instead of telling them. How To Help Children Set Effective Goals
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Choose A School That Provides Well-Rounded Education
Your child spends most of their time either at home or at school. Therefore, it’s important to look for a school that offers the right programs for your child to succeed. You should assess the curriculum, teaching methods, environment and extracurricular activities being offered depending on your child’s talent. The best type of school is one that offers a well-rounded education that exposes your child to different activities such as sports, music, community service, and entrepreneurship.
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Practice
The only thing that beats talent is hard work. It doesn’t matter if your child is the best actor, athlete, singer or dancer if they don’t put in effort to reach their full potential. It’s your responsibility to not only nurture their talent but also to teach them the value of hard work and discipline for them. Encourage them to practice regularly and remain resilient when faced with challenges. You can share personal stories of how you had to practice to be good at something.
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Provide Continuous Nurturing
Don’t stop nurturing your child’s talent even when they progress to more advanced levels. Your approval still means everything to them. Keep praising them when they do well and give your honest opinion when they ask how they’re doing. Constructive criticism is essential, especially when your child has developed their talent, to help them know where they can improve. Parenting: Confidence Building Phrases To Use With Your Kids
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