How to Unlock your child’s potential and Nurture their talent
As parents, we all want to help our children make the most of their abilities. One of the best ways to ensure this is by nurturing their talents from a young age.
We often hear stories of child prodigies who excel in music, art, sports, or academics at an early age. A good example is Mozart’s extraordinary musical abilities that manifested early in his life. He played the piano at the age of three and began composing at four. By age 12, he had composed his first opera and performed for royalty.
‘A child prodigy! Inborn talent!’ you say… I agree with you.
Exceptional kids seem born with natural talent, but is that the complete story?
Mozart
Here is the interesting part that most parents do not talk about:-
Mozart was born into a musical family. His father was a successful musician who devoted himself to teaching Mozart to practice music to perfection. He practiced hard for 13 years before developing his unique style of music and devoted many long hours each day to refining his mastery. Under his father’s guidance, he learned to play multiple musical instruments. In a letter to his sister in 1782, Mozart outlined his practice routine as very intense.
As Mozart wrote in a letter to a friend, “People err who think my art comes easily to me. I assure you, dear friend, nobody has devoted so much time and thought to composition as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times”.
TALENT + HARD WORK + OPPORTUNITY + SUPPORTIVE PARENT = GREAT SUCCESS
His talent was fierce. He had a special gift, combined with a strong work ethic, learning opportunities, discipline, and a supportive parent.
Talent is indeed made, not born.
It is not a matter of innate ability alone. Every child is unique and special. A child can learn and develop his talent when provided with the appropriate conditions of learning, and parents have a huge part to play in nurturing these talents.
So, what makes your child unique?
Do you know what your child’s interests and strengths are?
It is our responsibility as parents to discover and nurture our children’s talents.
How can I nurture my child’s talent?
Benjamin Bloom, a psychologist who investigated top performers in six talent domains, identified several conditions that can nurture a child’s talent based on the influence of parents:
- Identify their interests.
Children are curious and always ready to learn and explore new activities. Talents in children require consistent encouragement, lots of patience, and opportunities to develop and grow. Introduce them to clubs, community activities, age-appropriate activities, technology, etc and observe what activities spark their interest, and encourage them to pursue it further.
I remembered my 3-year-old tried to do cartwheels, so I enrolled her in gymnastics classes. After a few lessons, I realised she was not enjoying it as much as I thought she would. Most times, as parents, it can be difficult to accept that our children have interests and passions that may not align with ours. We must avoid imposing our preferences or high-level expectations on them as they work to discover their talent and passion.
Adultifying children by setting unrealistic expectations and pushing them too hard would inadvertently set them up for failure.
Parenting with an open mind is essential to supporting children’s interests, nurturing their talents, and creating opportunities for them, so those innate talents can emerge and blossom.
- Set goals and track progress
Setting goals and tracking progress is a great way to keep children motivated and engaged in their talent development. Help your child set achievable goals, both short-term and long-term. Celebrate their achievements and provide feedback on areas that need improvement.
- Balance talent development with other activities
While nurturing your child’s talent, it is also essential to balance it with other activities. Have a balanced schedule with enough time for rest, play, and academics. Encourage your child to participate in different activities and explore new interests. This will help them develop a well-rounded personality and avoid burnout in their area of talent.
Overloading your child with too many activities can be counterproductive and cause stress and anxiety. Remember that nurturing your child’s talent should be an enjoyable experience, not a stressful one.
- Provide a conducive environment.
The environment in which your child grows up can have a significant impact on their talent development. Create a positive and supportive atmosphere that encourages creativity and learning. By providing a conducive environment, your child will feel comfortable and confident in pursuing their interests.
- Praise effort, not ability.
Attend their performances or exhibitions, and praise their efforts for that painting they did or the picture they drew of you. Celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, and encourage them to keep going. This can help a child feel empowered and motivated to continue working hard, even when faced with challenges or setbacks. Praising effort can also foster a growth mindset, where a child sees challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement rather than failures. If you want your child to hone their talent, you have to be their biggest fan as well as their harshest critic.
- Provide opportunities for coaching and development
Coaching and development opportunities can provide a sense of structure and discipline, helping a child to stay focused and committed to their goals.
- Practice! Practice! Practice!
Talent alone is not enough, and consistent effort and practice are necessary for a child to reach their full potential. Regular practice can help a child develop their skills and build confidence in their abilities, instill a strong work ethic and develop the habits necessary to become a top performer in their chosen talent.
As Thomas Edison, put it, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Overall, supporting a child’s journey and purpose is essential for nurturing their talent and helping them reach their full potential. Just as Mozart’s father provided the conditions for him to develop his musical talent, we can create an environment that fosters our children’s growth and success.
This month, our theme is ‘Shine Bright’.
Follow us on our journey on social media as we share a series of content that will introduce and share insights into the life of young individuals who are blazing the trail in their fields.
Most importantly, we hope you will share the content of the young trailblazers, who are breaking ground, with your children and teens and inspire them to SHINE BRIGHT.
Written by Joelle Eyeson
