Learning: How to help your child push their limits

Trying something new, whether it’s a sport, a board game, or an artistic technique, is a golden opportunity to challenge oneself. There are a number of benefits to encouraging your child to explore different activities:

• It’ll help them discover their passions
• It’ll allow them to acquire various skills
• It’ll help them develop perseverance (it often takes several attempts to succeed at a new activity)
• It’ll improve their self-confidence
• Etc.

Has your child ever come home from school and been unable to stop talking about something they just learned about? Why not channel their enthusiasm by suggesting they dig deeper into the subject and then share what they find with the rest of the family? Researching the topic will be a valuable exercise in several ways:

• It’ll be an opportunity for your child to hone their reading comprehension skills
• It’ll spark their curiosity
• It’ll encourage them to take initiative (e.g., your child might decide to set up a composting system at home)
• Etc.

Everyone has fears, and overcoming them is how we grow. Kids who know that a parent will always be there to help them face their fears are less likely to let those fears hold them back. They’re more willing to take initiative and more autonomous, qualities that are essential to academic success. Wondering how to support your child? It’s simple! Here are a few ideas to try:

• Share your personal experiences
• Explain that even heroes feel afraid sometimes (e.g., parents, teachers, Batman, Wonder Woman)
• Ask your child to put their fears into words
• Help them develop coping strategies
• Etc.

Self-confidence is crucial to success! Kids who believe in themselves and their abilities are more inclined to make bold decisions. As a parent, you can help your child cultivate that sense of competence in various ways:

• Help them experience success on a daily basis (e.g., encourage them to do lesson review on their own or pack their own lunch)
• Provide encouragement through words and gestures
• Share their joy when they accomplish something
• Highlight their progress
• Congratulate them for their efforts
• Etc.

Goals are similar to hopes and dreams. They involve imagining the future, wanting to accomplish something specific, or taking on a personal challenge. Sometimes, when the road gets a little bumpy, goals are what help us push through our limits. And best of all, achieving our goals leaves us with a tremendous sense of pride! There are so many good reasons to encourage your child set a few goals of their own. Here are some examples:

• Finish the first chapter of the book that’s been sitting on their night table for too long
• Improve their math grade by a certain percentage
• Do their homework without complaining for an entire week
• Etc.