HOW TO BRING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR CHILD.

There is no doubt that every parent wants the best to come out of their children, but how to bring it out might be a bit of a challenge to them. Some parents have given up on their children, thinking that the best can not come out of them, while some have only seen a glimpse of what their children could do.

The definition of "the gifted child" has traditionally been based on school-related skills and limited to the upper 5 to 10 percent of children who achieve high test scores, write well and excel academically.  These are certainly important,  but there may be hundreds of other ways for children to show their gift.

Today's intelligence researchers emphasize that nearly all children- not just the celebrated 5 percent,  have special talents, says David  G. Myers, ph.D, Professor of psychology at Hope college in Holland, Michigan. Studies at Harvard University bear this out, suggesting that kids can display intelligence in many different ways - through words, numbers,  music, pictures, athletic,  social and emotional development.

As an anonymous observer once said: " All children are gifted, some just open their packages later than others ".

You as a parent, can play an important role in awakening the latent talents or developing current strength through experience you give your child at home.. These are some of the ways you can bring the best out of your child.
1. Let your child discover her own interest.  Pay attention to the activities she chooses. This free time play can say alot about where her gift lies.
2. Expose your child to a broad spectrum of experiences. They may activate latent talents. Don't assume that she isn't gifted in an area because she hasn't shown an interest.
3. Give your child permission to make mistakes. If she has to do things perfectly, she'll never take the risks necessary to discover and develop a gift.
4. Keep your own passion for learning alive. Your child will be influenced by your example.
5. Play game together as a family.

As an anonymous observer once said: " All children are gifted, some just open their packages later than others ".

6. Share your success as a family. Talk about good things that happened during the day to enhance self- esteem.
7. Listen to your child The things he cares about most may provide clues to his special talents.
8. Give your child a special space at home to be creative.
9. Praise your child's sense of responsibility at home when she completes assigned chores.
10. Share inspirational stories of people who succeeded in life.

I believe that if parents are able to practise some of  these points, we will see the best coming out of our children.

F.A. Balogun
School Manager