Develop Your Childs Genius - Developing Leadership Qualities

Often I have heard that leaders are born, not made. Do you think this is true? How many times did you read a biography of a great leader, and discovered that as a child, he has been quiet, reserved and rather shy? Are those natural qualities of a leader? Of course not! These people have developed their leadership qualities later in life.

Would you like your child to be a leader?

What are the qualities of a leader?

Here are some of the qualities required to be a leader, and how you can encourage the development of these qualities in your child.

* Integrity - remember to be a good example, a role model for your child. Parents teach by example, and integrity is a quality kids learn from their parents. Talk with your child about integrity. One tool that is very helpful is story telling. Look for books that tell about the value of integrity. To find more resources for stories that promote values in kids, look at http://www.all-gifted-children.com, under "Resources". You can find it at Inspirational Kids Stories on the web. You can also make up your own stories, that tell about the value of integrity.

* Courage - always praise courage. When your child shows courage, notice it and praise it. Praise courage wherever you see an expression of it. Story telling is also very effective in this case.

* Creative, independent thinking. In order to develop this quality, it is very helpful to ask questions. When you talk with your child about any subject at all, always ask open questions, that encourage creative thinking. Use the "One Step Farther" principle. After you have gotten all the obvious answers, ask one more question, to come up with a deeper, more creative idea. Questions like "why", "what would happen if...", "how do you think did it feel...", encourage your child to think creatively. Talk to your child, encourage independent thinking.

* Confidence - this is one of the most important qualities required for success in general. To develop confidence in your child, avoid criticizing your child, praise your child sincerely and often, develop a habit to talk about your child's strengths and achievements with him every day. Remember to make it a point to bring up at least one good quality of your child every day. If you adopt it as a routine, over time it will do wonders for your child. It takes only a few minutes to mention an achievement or a strength (a good quality). Encourage your child, repeat the phrase "you can do it" often.

* A leader takes responsibility. When something goes wrong, sometimes it makes us feel better if we can blame something else or someone else. A leader takes responsibility. Make sure your child knows that he is the "boss" in his life. His success is his responsibility. We are not victims of our environment, we have control over our life. Teach your child to "come from a place of power". When your child blames someone else or something else for a mishap, or comes up with excuses, you have an opportunity to encourage your child to assume responsibility. Make sure that your child knows that it is Ok to make mistakes. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn.

You can help your child draw conclusions, without "making him wrong", by asking: "what did you learn from this?", "what do you think went wrong?", "why do you think this happened?", "how could you avoid this?" and again "what do you think would happen if...?". Your child should understand that he has no control over other people, and is not expected to have control over other people's actions, but he has full control over his own reaction. This will give your child the feeling of power, as opposed to "being a victim".

The conversations that you hold with your child have a profound effect on your child's future. Make sure you take the time to talk with your child every day, to be involved with what is happening in your child's life. To support, encourage and inspire. By doing that, you are being a leader, and you are developing your child's leadership skills.

For the last 26 years, Esther Andrews has studied, researched and practiced the ways to develop a child's intelligence. She also served as the principal of the School for Gifted Education. As a result of this experience, she developed her own method and philosophy, that proved to be extremely successful with her own 2 highly gifted children.

In her web site, http://www.all-gifted-children.com, she helps parents develop their child's genius, and provide for their kids the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential.

---

10 Ways You Can Advocate For Your Child With A Learning Disability

Did you know that you are the most important person... Read More

Are You Meeting ALL Your Childs Basic Needs?

This may come as a surprise, but many parents are... Read More

Bath Time Fun

Bath time can be fun or it can be a... Read More

Teaching Reading : Part Two

We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More

What a Parent Must Do to Stop Online Predators

Teens can freely access the Internet from computers at school,... Read More

My Teenaged Parents

Frankly, as a single parent of young children, I struggled.... Read More

Parents Need to Vent Anger! Try These 4 Steps to Serenity

Parents are losing their self-control to anger. A friend called... Read More

Discipline

Discipline is a necessary part of parenting yet it makes... Read More

When Everybody Does It Comes Back to Haunt You

Parental example, whether for good or for bad, is undoubtedly... Read More

Parenting: Blending Familes - 9 Universal Laws

The law of -ing.The law of -ing refers to a... Read More

Breastfeed a Toddler - Why?

Is your baby approaching his or her first birthday and... Read More

Boundaries - Why Theyre Needed

Imagine a child who lacks ownership of his own life,... Read More

First Year With Twins - A Father?s Point Of View

People always ask my wife and I: "How did you... Read More

Now, They?re Bullying My Daughter in Our Home: Welcome to Cyber-bullying

Last night Tom's daughter, Sue, came out of her room... Read More

Help! My Kids Dont Listen to Me

Does this sound familiar? Have your kids not listened to... Read More

Misplaced Passion

"Before every action, ask yourself: Will this bring more monkeys... Read More

Helping Your Children Develop Their Self-Discipline

We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More

One Definition of Success

As parents, we want our children and teens to grow... Read More

How to Make Kids More Likeable?

Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent more than the... Read More

Lets Pretend

Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More

Registering a Birth in Scotland

Who Can Register A Birth? The child's mother... Read More

Classic Parenting: Encouragement, Praise, Acceptance, and Responsibility

Encouragement comes when you focus on your child's assets and... Read More

Is Your Teen Swamped with Homework and Tests?

I hear from many parents that their child is stressed... Read More

Whats Mine Is Mine

You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More

End Homework Battles

Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and... Read More

Teaching Children Good Manners

Last week in my newsletter, I mentioned that... Read More

Teach Your Children How To Resolve Conflict Without Using Anger Or Power

Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More

Child Education

The initial state of happiness about an own child is... Read More

Who Will Be Their Guardian?

If you are like most people today, you do not... Read More

The Best and Worst of Motherhood

Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More

Spelling Games

The following spelling games can be used by parents to... Read More

The Challenges of Single Parenting

Having worked with parents for the last 35 years and... Read More

Tips for the Classroom Teachers with ADHD Students

Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More