Start Wide, Then Narrow

In the early years give your children experience in lots of different areas. Watch and discover who they are and what they’re interested in. Select some skills to promote in which you think your child’s greatest potential of success may lie. As they grow in these skills, so will their self-confidence.

Give them opportunities to say, “I’m really good at this…”

Recognize Your Child's Gifts

Recognize what your children are passionate about and what they’re gifted in. And then give them opportunities in those things.

My son loves crafts. I've got no patience for glue and glitter. I love surfing. But he’s just not interested in surfing. Not yet at least. So we started giving him opportunities to do more crafts and art, despite my urge to paste his feet to a surfboard. Now instead of making him do what I want, I'm learning to do crafts. And don't tell anyone, but I'm secretly starting to enjoy it.

Learn To Maximize Your Child’s Passions and Strengths

As I post this blog, my son is practicing the piano. I play the piano and I'm thrilled that he's learning to play as well. But there's a fine line between encouraging him to play because it will bless him and forcing him to play because it will bless me.

Your child is not your “chance to live your life over again”. They're different from you. They have a different set of gifts and passions. Avoid the temptation to force your child into your mold or your desires for them. It’s okay to work on their weaknesses, but let their primary focus be on their strengths. Their confidence will increase as they excel in their strengths.