As the saying goes, a new year comes with new beginnings. This is especially true for children, who are in the phase of life where the question is not whether but how much they can grow. As parents, it can be exciting to witness how your child responds to each new change that life sends their way, and how he or she in turn changes and grows.
At the same time, you also have an important role to play in shaping that growth. The start of a new year represents the perfect opportunity to put your child in the position to realise their fullest potential, by building the right habits and adopting the right mindsets. Here are some tips and suggestions for you to consider.
Equip your child with the tools to succeed
The most important thing to keep in mind is that there is no sure-fire step-by-step process to unlock your child’s potential. Your child is unique, and his or her parents (that’s you!) are also unique, and you will need to walk the journey together.
The world would be a much simpler place if we always had a perfect picture of what potential looks like.
But we do not, so the next best thing is to make sure your child is well-equipped to make that journey, something that cannot be done overnight. That means nurturing a few key soft skills and qualities in your child. These include the usual suspects such as the ability to think critically and operate independently, but do not discount the importance of imparting to them a solid moral compass that will govern how they behave and respond to new situations.
For example, your child will encounter his or her fair share of difficulties, setbacks and failure as they grow and learn. As most of us eventually come to realise as adults, being able to take ownership of and responsibility for failures is as important as doing the same for successes. So is treating the people around them with respect and grace, instead of lashing out in frustration.
You won’t be able to plan ahead for every single mistake your child will make, but you can teach him or her the right way to approach those mistakes and to learn from them when the time comes. A child who is accustomed to building on his or her mistakes is a child who is well on the way to realising their full potential.
Expose your child to different experiences
Children are naturally curious, grown-ups very much less so. And exposing your child to as many experiences, ideas and perspective as possible while he or she is still a little bundle of curiosity is certainly a good idea.
In this way, you are giving your child more opportunities to find the things he or she can absolutely thrive or excel at, to discover new talents and unearth new skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
You have many options when it comes to signing your child up for classes that go beyond what is taught in school, including some offered by us at The Learning Lab.
For example, we are offering an Amazing World of Science: Superhero Engineering for Primary 1 and 2 students during the March holidays that emphasises the importance of experimentation and inquiry with each two-hour session featuring hands-on projects and fun games. You can sign up for our mailing list here to be notified when priority registration for our holiday workshops begin.
Experiencing different things helps children to grow both intellectually from picking up knowledge, and emotionally from interacting with other kids who share their passions.
But new experiences are not limited to indoor learning, and come in every shade imaginable. You can expose your child to, and gauge their interest level for, anything from cooking, playing chess and coding, to badminton, crossword puzzles or drama. The point is to let your child try things. While parents quite naturally want to protect their children from the hazards that life throws up, you do not want to end up stifling their development instead.
Encourage your child to explore his or her interests
Finally, perhaps the most active role you can play in helping your child discover his or her potential is by giving them your full support in whatever they develop an interest in. This begins with good communication between parent and child.
Even as you expose them to new experiences, check in with them regularly to find out what really excites them, and what does not. Ask them why they enjoy a certain activity or hobby, or reading about a particular topic.
Give them the space to talk about their hopes and dreams, no matter how fantastic or unattainable these might seem, and avoid tempering such conversations with the pragmatic realities of adulthood. There will be plenty of time for that later when your child is grown-up!
Finding out what interests your child also creates opportunities for you to really engage him or her on a level that matters most to them. For example, if your child enjoys drawing, showing interest in his or her doodles and suggesting ideas of your own sends the message that you are supportive of his or her passion.
Unlock Your Child’s Fullest Potential
Seeing your child take control of their own personal journey in fulfilling their potential can in turn bring you great fulfilment as a parent. But to get to that point, your child needs your unstinting support and commitment to letting them explore new things.
At The Learning Lab, we believe that nurturing a spirit of inquiry and curiosity in our students is a fundamental building block of an effective and holistic pedagogy. We teach our students how to find the right answers, and we teach them to think.
Click here to find out more about how our programmes can bring out the very best in your child.
Resources for Your Child's Learning Journey
Read our other articles for parenting advice and developmental tips.
A reward system can be a great way to motivate your child to make a habit of positive behaviours that you wish to encourage. Here are a few key considerations to keep in mind when implementing a reward system.
Reading the news can appear to be a dry and boring affair for children but there are significant benefits to developing an interest in current affairs early, and anywhere between upper primary to junior college is a good time to get started.
Here at The Learning Lab, we encourage students to aim to be the better version of their true selves, so they may grow up to be joyful and intelligent adults with healthy dispositions. Help us to reinforce these values by trying these tips at home.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 6733 8711 / enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.