It can be a slippery slope guiding your children through the myriad of hobby and career choices. If only there was a time machine so we could see whether the invested money, time and effort paid off. Most importantly, did we as parents properly recognized and supported our children’s talents and aptitude?

In fact, recognizing the prodigy in a child is the biggest gift a parent can give to their offspring. If all parents understood the importance of properly nourishing their child’s special talent (which every kid has in some form), we would be living in a world of fulfilled and accomplished people, all reaching their full potential. The best thing you can do as a parent is finding the time to discover and identify what makes each child unique and foster what makes them special.

LEARN HOW TO CAREFULLY WATCH

The best way to support your child’s strengths is first to be able to recognize them. Children are not good at pinpointing their talent, but they pursue them instinctively. Your job is to be on the look-out for all the details and little things that can be a telltale sign.

If your child, for example, finds it easy to express themselves through drawing vivid situations and emotions, he or she may be a future artist in the making. Observe what toys and games your child prefers to play. Listen to what questions they ask. Anything can turn into a daily occupation that can develop into a career path.

It’s important to keep in mind not to overemphasize things and become obsessed. It all boils down to knowing and lovingly watching your child’s action so it can help them in their future pursuits, not for the personal gain of achievement and satisfaction.

PRAISE EFFORT, NOT ABILITY

Talent can be defined in many ways. When we talk about children’s aptitude, one should not focus on being gifted or prodigy-like qualities, but a combination of strengths and preferences that each child possesses.

Giving praise from the earliest age can have a profound influence on your child’s self-esteem and motivation. Teaching kids that what matters is mindful engagement and personal satisfaction with what they do, rather than always being best and perfect at something will craft their minds into believing in themselves more.

In fact, the more you support the effort and hard work, the more your child will be able to pursue their dreams until the end and learn how perseverance and patience may lead to great things. Furthermore, sometimes the ability depends on age and maturity. Maybe what your child needs is a few years of growing up and learning in order to spark off that natural flair and become good at what they currently aren’t. Sometimes it’s important to let things take their natural course.

PROVIDE THE MEANS AND OPPORTUNITIES

When you spot the spark in your child’s eyes when doing what they enjoy, make sure to provide a rich learning environment based on his or her interests. Talents need openings to develop. If no opportunity arises for a skill to flourish, it may remain suppressed throughout a child’s formative years, after which it may be too late to develop it to its full potential.

That doesn’t mean you need to go above and beyond and spend your entire life savings on a hobby. There are always ways to provide your kid with a context they need to develop. For instance, if your little boy enjoys dancing and movement, play music in your house, experiment with genres, play musical videos or introduce him with different dancing styles. Dancing classes are preferable, but not completely necessary, at least not in the beginning, for encouraging him to practice and get to love it.

IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO PERSISTENT WORK

If you ask any successful artist about their journey to the top, none will say that they relied solely on their talent. In order to reach their full potential, children need to nurture their gifts and work on themselves on a regular basis.

That’s where parents enter the scene and make their kids’ dreams come true. It’s not always a pleasant job, but nagging about discipline is sometimes essential. Musical kids, for example, need to learn the skill of regular practicing along with learning to play an instrument. Perseverance and dedication are necessary to enjoy the benefits of having talent. Get involved by being properly informed and prepared. Resources like Music Groupies and others are great for looking up needed information about the best instruments and music gear for a proper playing experience. In order to enjoy the perks of standing ovations, traveling for concerts, playing gigs or having fans, a musician has to go through a rocky path of constant hard work, discipline and sometimes even sacrifice. The talent will fade away if it’s not used. This is a valuable lesson to teach your child, applicable in other areas of life.

SHOW INTEREST IN WHAT THEY LIKE

“Monkey see-monkey do” is what we sometimes say for children and it can be very true in this case. If you show interest in activities that your children are fond of, they may get the additional push when they see you as a parent involved in their preoccupation.

When toddlers, humans are very attached to their parents and see them as the primary motivation for action. Throughout life we imagine our parents as heroes and role models. Similarly, when we lack parental care and attention, it leaves emotional and psychological scarring for life.

The more you share interests with your children, the more they will be motivated to continue doing those things. If you notice your girl is super talented at remembering information, nurture that talent, buy books and share information on various topics. You can create fun activities around learning, make crafts, watch documentaries together or play quizzes and guessing games. You kid will enjoy the attention and effort, plus you’ll bond on a much deeper level and work on creating a strong, healthy relationship.

Remember – each child is unique and within him or her lies a special strength. Invest time and effort to discover it and one you will fulfill the most important purpose of parenting – being the backbone to your child when they most need it.

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This Guest Blog is by Simon Dupree. He discovered his passion for music at a very young age. Ever since then, music has been an essential part of his life. When he is not practicing, he’s probably behind the keyboard writing for Music Groupies