As a parent, your kids are usually your first duty. They need care, and most of all, they need guidance. In most cases, the child is a reflection of the parents. If a parent has done his or her job well, he or she will be proud that the child is a reflection of them. We often see parents worrying about what the child can or cannot do like others or forgetting the child can actually do as well as just a few other children could. During the formative stage of every child, they need all the encouragement they can get especially from their parents. When a parent fails to provide this encouragement at this stage, the child may likely find it from others or might just develop a low self-esteem thinking they are good for nothing.
Being a strength based parent is how you can get the best out of your child. This is because every child has a gold in him which needs some polishing to shine forth. Secondly the parents are usually the child’s first role model and they believe so much in their judgement. However, being a strength based parent might not be a very easy task because it requires some patience, understanding and hard work to identify the child’s potentials (which are sometimes not always on the surface). Having this mind, here are some ideas on how to be a strength based parent.
“Every word, facial expression, gesture, or action on the part of a parent gives the child some message about self-worth. It is sad that so many parents don’t realize what messages they are sending.”
irginia Satir
- Keep a journal: Keeping a journal is an age long practices that has contributed in many achievements like building of self-awareness and confidence, goals achievement and the building of businesses, and the better understanding of one’s environment. Keeping a journal for your child will go a long way in understanding your child the more. You will get to know what he does often, his strength and his weaknesses and then, you can draft out a measure to build on his strength while working on his weaknesses.
- Spend more time with your child: The only way you can always provide support for your child and build on their strength is if you spend time with them. This is when you will get the chance to observe their strengths and understand how to enhance them. Most parent get too busy with business and work, hoping that the teacher at school will do a good job in the formation of their children. Of course, they do but you need to play an active role in the formation of your child and this is how you can be a strength based parent.
- Encourage the child in his little efforts: Being a strength based parent doesn’t mean you ignore your child’s “fault” and allow them to progress mistakes. You need to make corrections where need be but you also need to encourage the little efforts they might be putting to get things right especially if they are trying out a new skill or art. Rewards are inevitable in the learning process.
