Often I have heard that leaders are born, not made. Do you think this is true? How many times did you read a biography of a great leader, and discovered that as a child, he has been quiet, reserved and rather shy? Are those natural qualities of a leader? Of course not! These people have developed their leadership qualities later in life.
Would you like your child to be a leader?
What are the qualities of a leader?
Here are some of the qualities required to be a leader, and how you can encourage the development of these qualities in your child.
* Integrity - remember to be a good example, a role model for your child. Parents teach by example, and integrity is a quality kids learn from their parents. Talk with your child about integrity. One tool that is very helpful is story telling. Look for books that tell about the value of integrity. To find more resources for stories that promote values in kids, look at http://www.all-gifted-children.com, under "Resources". You can find it at Inspirational Kids Stories on the web. You can also make up your own stories, that tell about the value of integrity.
* Courage - always praise courage. When your child shows courage, notice it and praise it. Praise courage wherever you see an expression of it. Story telling is also very effective in this case.
* Creative, independent thinking. In order to develop this quality, it is very helpful to ask questions. When you talk with your child about any subject at all, always ask open questions, that encourage creative thinking. Use the "One Step Farther" principle. After you have gotten all the obvious answers, ask one more question, to come up with a deeper, more creative idea. Questions like "why", "what would happen if...", "how do you think did it feel...", encourage your child to think creatively. Talk to your child, encourage independent thinking.
* Confidence - this is one of the most important qualities required for success in general. To develop confidence in your child, avoid criticizing your child, praise your child sincerely and often, develop a habit to talk about your child's strengths and achievements with him every day. Remember to make it a point to bring up at least one good quality of your child every day. If you adopt it as a routine, over time it will do wonders for your child. It takes only a few minutes to mention an achievement or a strength (a good quality). Encourage your child, repeat the phrase "you can do it" often.
* A leader takes responsibility. When something goes wrong, sometimes it makes us feel better if we can blame something else or someone else. A leader takes responsibility. Make sure your child knows that he is the "boss" in his life. His success is his responsibility. We are not victims of our environment, we have control over our life. Teach your child to "come from a place of power". When your child blames someone else or something else for a mishap, or comes up with excuses, you have an opportunity to encourage your child to assume responsibility. Make sure that your child knows that it is Ok to make mistakes. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn.
You can help your child draw conclusions, without "making him wrong", by asking: "what did you learn from this?", "what do you think went wrong?", "why do you think this happened?", "how could you avoid this?" and again "what do you think would happen if...?". Your child should understand that he has no control over other people, and is not expected to have control over other people's actions, but he has full control over his own reaction. This will give your child the feeling of power, as opposed to "being a victim".
The conversations that you hold with your child have a profound effect on your child's future. Make sure you take the time to talk with your child every day, to be involved with what is happening in your child's life. To support, encourage and inspire. By doing that, you are being a leader, and you are developing your child's leadership skills.
For the last 26 years, Esther Andrews has studied, researched and practiced the ways to develop a child's intelligence. She also served as the principal of the School for Gifted Education. As a result of this experience, she developed her own method and philosophy, that proved to be extremely successful with her own 2 highly gifted children.
In her web site, http://www.all-gifted-children.com, she helps parents develop their child's genius, and provide for their kids the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential.
elite cleaning services Des Plaines ..Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your... Read More
Prenatal intelligence, also known as fetal intelligence, has become a... Read More
Jason Roberts listened to his son's explanation of the missing... Read More
Are men to blame for the divorce problem in this... Read More
Most of us really don't like it when someone is... Read More
During the assessment process it is of great importance for... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More
What parents of a teen haven't wondered where their sweet... Read More
1. You reheated the same cup of coffee three times... Read More
She slipped her small, soft eight-year-old hand into mine. Her... Read More
We are all aware of the child obesity epidemic that... Read More
When growing up, my father frequently reminded me to "pay... Read More
I know this Mom. She homeschools her 5 children, plus... Read More
For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More
Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic can tell... Read More
Cardiovascular endurance is one of the five health-related components of... Read More
What Children Look for in a Friend?Is this child fun... Read More
How would you like to have more time? Of course... Read More
"Family Matters" was the headline that caught my attention in... Read More
LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2005) - With Memorial Day weekend,... Read More
Not nearly as often as it should. Most child abuse... Read More
AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove ..In "The Ring Bear," a picture book by Tigard resident... Read More
When a child wets the bed they worry. Children tend... Read More
When growing up, my father frequently reminded me to "pay... Read More
It's a familiar scene: Kids screaming at each other, complaining... Read More
I have been a single mom for almost 20 years.... Read More
When you're a parent it's a difficult decision to know... Read More
A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
The snow was getting heavier with each lift of the... Read More
Advocate: you've probably heard the term before. But what does... Read More
There are software programs that you can purchase to keep... Read More
The big yellow school bus is coming down my road... Read More
How do we deal with our seriously distressed children and... Read More
Each child carries a unique picture of the self, shaped... Read More
Even as a busy parent, I'm sure you've seen a... Read More
The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of all... Read More
Because most teens have not had the experience of getting... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
What is the mystery of motherhood? I know that when... Read More
One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
You need to smart to be able influence adolescents. You... Read More
Are you looking for the Ultimate Airplane Themed Party Games... Read More
Often I have heard that leaders are born, not made.... Read More
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids... Read More
As the new school year begins, parents play a pivotal... Read More
Parenting |