How to Identify And Grow Your Child’s Strengths
What a great day! There you are, watching your child play and be silly, and you’re thinking, “my daughter is hilarious”, and out-spoken. I wonder if she’ll be a comedian, or a public speaker? Or, “my son is four and can count to 150". I wonder if he’ll be a math teacher, accountant, or even a biologist. You're smiling in delight at how smart your child is, while helping to identify and develop their strengths?
To help you learn how to identify and develop your youngsters' strengths, continue reading this article on identifying your child’s strengths, and how you can help them strive to be everything great that the universe has to offer them.
Strength-Based Parenting & Identifying Your Child’s Strengths
By nature, your child is already equipped with the tools needed to be the next avant-garde architect, uproarious comedian, or politician. When you practice strength-based parenting, it involves discovering your child’s strengths and how to play to those strengths. Learning their strengths will also allow you to create a smoother path for their success throughout their school years and college—all while bonding and having a good time along the way.
Think about it? All of your favorite heroes have differing talents and strengths. Kelly Clarkson has a beautiful singing voice, and Albert Einstein was a great mathematician, while Michelle Obama is a gifted speaker, as well as a former First Lady. Like these well-known icons, each youngster’s talents and strengths can blossom when they’re recognized.
Although it is important to recognize your child’s challenges, it’s just as important to see their strengths. Once you’ve identified their strengths, you can begin to build their self-esteem and self-awareness. You will also be able to utilize those learned strengths to address areas that are more challenging for your child. Following these steps can help you recognize your child’s strengths and discover your child’s strong points.
Your Child’s Interests Matter
Occasionally, your child's strengths will become known through their explorations and interests. Educate yourself so that you can encourage your child to discover and pursue new passions and strengths, but be mindful that discovering strengths will likely come with some trial and error. For instance, your offspring may not be very good at one thing straight away, which is fine but may be frustrating. Which is also the reason for raising your children to have a “growth mindset.”
Help Your Child Spot Their Strengths
Consider creating a “strengths chain” to motivate your child. It’s a really groovy activity that allows your youngster to recognize their strengths. Additionally, an “accomplishments box” for your child will allow them to enjoy seeing their accomplishments, too.
Discuss Your Children's Strengths
Being honest and transparent with your child about their challenges, as well as their strengths, can assist your child in appreciating their abilities. Take a look at these tips for speaking with your child.
Different Types Of Strengths
Did you know that there are various types of strengths? These strengths can typically be separated into six primary categories:
- Social
- Literacy
- Personal
- Language
- Math/Logic
- Other Strengths
While some strengths are naturally apparent, other strengths need to be realized and improved. Consider exploring the following ways to identify and bolster your kid's strengths and challenges at home.
1. Personal Strengths
Personal strengths are normally naturally occurring strengths. When you think of positive personality traits, you can link it to personal strengths, such as:
- Empathy
- Curiosity
- Creativity
- Kindness
- Resiliency
- Thoughtfulness
Reinforcing Strengths: Personality and strengths come from within. You can bolster their strengths by being a positive role model, and motivating enthusiasm, effort, problem-solving, and honesty in your child. Learn to lead by example with your child.
2. Behavioral and Social Strengths
Social strengths and behavioral strengths are a part of how your kids interact with others.
For instance:
- Being honest
- A great friend
- Following rules
- Being empathetic
- Being a good listener
- Ignoring peer pressure
- Honoring personal space
Reinforcing Strengths: You can enhance your child's social strengths by emphasizing how significant open and honest communication is, as well as helping and embracing others.
3. Language Strengths
If your child is a good listener and speaker, these are strengths of a gifted communicator. These kids have strong communication and vocabulary skills, and can convey their thoughts with structure and clarity.
Reinforcing Strengths: Encourage involvement in school activities, playwriting, or debate team.
4. Literacy Strengths
Kids displaying literacy strengths excel in reading and writing skills. These children tend to display:
- Enjoys writing
- Loves reading
- Sharp memories
- Vivid imaginations
- Intelligent vocabularies
Reinforcing Strengths: Practice makes perfect when your child is gifted with literacy strengths. Challenge your child with a writing prompt and see their imagination blossom. Consider enrolling them in a children's book club.
5. Logical and Mathematical Strengths
Children that possess sharp logic and math skills can typically complete word problems and puzzles. These kids can also sort, count, organize, figure out mathematical problems in their heads, and enjoys taking apart and putting back together objects.
Reinforcing Strengths: Play games that are strategy-based, and estimating games. Have your kids assist you with household chores, like cooking, that require using numbers.
6. Other Strengths
Other strengths encompass anything from playing music to rollerblading or skating.
Reinforcing Strengths: Encourage and assist your children to follow their passions.
Conclusion
Prioritize your kid’s individual attention for discovering and learning your child’s strengths. When you follow the above approaches, it provides a type of security for your children that allows their strengths and talents to be discovered and brought to the forefront.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2022 Felicia Powell - FlowerChild Fee
