Raising Kids To Be Successful
It turns out that superior intellect and natural talent is not necessarily the key to success. Over 30 years of research shows that an overemphasis on talent or intellect leaves children vulnerable to failure.
The danger is that they do not develop mechanisms for handling challenges and overcoming adversity. Everything comes easily for them and they begin to expect that this will continue. When faced with obstacles later in life they do not know how to handle them.
It is often the children that are faced with difficulties and overcome them that achieve the greatest success. They develop a belief in themselves and know that by working hard they can solve a problem or reach a goal.
Scientific American presents the results of these findings in an article entitled The Secret to Raising Smart Kids. Here are some of the strategies they recommend for producing high achievers in school and in life:
- Praise effort and persistence when your child completes a task.
- Teach your children that the brain is like a muscle that can get stronger the more you use it.
- Provide opportunities for defeat so they can learn from their mistakes.
- Tell stories of achievement that resulted from hard work.
- Instill a love of learning in your child.
- Teach them that even geniuses have to work hard to succeed.
You often see people that were destined for greatness fall short and others with questionable futures achieve remarkable levels of success. There is no doubt that perseverance, hard work and an ability to overcome challenges were life skills that made the difference.
