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As you work toward your goal of a stronger family with the help of Dream City, you may be wondering how you can be a better role model for your children. One of the ways that parents can show up for their children is by teaching leadership skills from an early age. Leadership skills give children the confidence and capabilities they need to set and achieve goals, stand up for themselves and others, and make the world a better place.
Are you ready to raise your child into a strong leader? These are the best places to start.
Instill the traits of a good leader
Your child’s character starts developing at an early age. Make sure you’re molding it the right way by encouraging these traits of good leaders.
● Courage: Leading means stepping into the unknown. That’s why courage is such an important trait for leaders. Foster courage from an early age by encouraging kids to try new things.
● Openness: Being honest, admitting when you’re wrong, and showing compassion for others are the types of leadership habits that children pick up from their parents. Model these traits in your own life so you can pass them onto your children.
● Integrity: Integrity may seem like an advanced concept for kids, but they don’t need to know the definition to understand the importance of living by their values.
Point your children towards success
What does it take to be successful? While success looks different for everyone, there are some lessons every child needs to learn in order to achieve his goals. These are the most important lessons to teach your child for future success.
● Integrity matters. Leadership isn’t about winning at all costs. The best leaders act with integrity in everything they do.
● Set big goals. No matter what your child imagines for his future, encourage him to aim high. Having a vision for the future encourages children to work hard.
● Be gracious. Whether your child fails or succeeds, it’s important to be gracious. Graciousness develops empathy as well as the respect of others.
Teach kids to be their best, not the best
Your child doesn’t need to be a straight-A student, a star at sports, or a future CEO to be a leader. Leaders come from all walks of life and change the world in all sorts of ways, both big and small. Instead of pushing your child to be thebest, nurture his best with these tips.
● Broaden your ideas of success. Good grades and high test scores are a common measure of success in youth, but they’re not the only ones. Your child might not be a stellar student, but is he a good team player, kind to others, and courageous in the face of difficulty?
● Tap into your child’s interests. Parents can also use topics their children are interested in to further knowledge of other subjects. For example, use cooking to teach math or art to learn geometry.
● Praise effort, not perfection. Perfectionism in kids is linked to anxiety, depression, and other issues. Instead of pushing for perfection, emphasize the importance of effort and progress.
Raise youth to be resilient
Does your child give up when things get tough? Life never stops throwing challenges your way, so it’s important for children to develop resilience. Resilient youth pursue challenges and don’t let failure stand in the way of success. Here’s how you can encourage resilience in your kids.
● Use process praise. Process praise refers to sharing specific observations about your child’s accomplishments. Instead of congratulating your child for a job well done, try pointing out specific tasks where he’s excelled.
● Embrace the power of “yet.” There will always be things we can’t do, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn how. When your child says he can’t do something, remind him that he can’t do it yet.
● Remind kids of their successes. Is your child’s confidence lagging? When your child feels stuck, remind him of times in the past that he’s overcome challenges and found success.
No matter what your child’s future holds, leadership skills will serve him well. When children develop leadership skills, they learn how to set goals for themselves, overcome challenges, and keep pushing ahead even when things get tough. Apply these leadership tips in your own family and watch your child’s confidence grow.