Be a role model for your children

Image Credit : http://www.kikiandtea.com

How do you get kids and teens to do the right things?

Model what you want. You will be amazed at what you will learn.

Today my sharing will be short and sweet through watching two video clips.

Look at how children learn so fast without the parents teaching them step by step.

Learn how people model after one another, doing good.
Our children can also do the same.

Differences between parent and child

Sometimes it is difficult to adjust to a child that is your opposite. At times, an introvert parent can feel as if his extrovert child is a joy and a curse, and vice versa. Being different is a wonderful opportunity to teach your child about individual differences and how to accept them. Let your extrovert child know that you as a parent can be drained by too much going on, and that you need breaks to recharge your energy in way you child may not. Tell him that you want to be involved in their activities, but don't hesitate to set limits. Eg, you can set limits for certain activities, or set a limit for the number of sport events to attend. You don't have to feel like a bad parent if you can't keep up with your extrovert child.

Some parents teach their children about extrovert and introvert differences so that they are more aware of their tendencies, as well as other peoplets tendencies.

Marti Olsen, author of The Introvert Advantage says:
"At the dinner table make sure all the children have a turn to talk. Introverts feel uncomfortable about interrupting, so they may not join a family discussion. If they know they are going to have a turn, they can have time to prepare their thoughts. Help the talker learn to wait for their slower-paced brother or sister. Don't let one sibling interrupt or talk for another. It's obvious that no child should be made fun of or humiliated for his or her communication style.

Encourage the other siblings to wait if an introverted child takes longer to give his opinion. Eg: "John needs a minute to think about that, Sam. Let's see what she thinks." By respecting everyone in the family, all of your children will develop stronger interpersonal skills."

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Learning Differences

Children are different in other ways such as speed of learning. For example, it seems that some children possess their type of intelligence from birth. They are born with their one or two areas of giftedness already developed. Other children may be gradual learners, while some children are late bloomers.

Some people call children who fall into one of these three kinds of learning runners, walkers and jumpers:

Runner
When a runner is given a new task, he understands it immediately. He learns quickly, but to stay interested and involved, he needs to be challenged.

Walker
A walker takes longer to learn but responds well to instruction. This child seems to learn a little, gets better and then lets you know he is learning. Encouragement does wonders for a walker.

Jumper
A jumper is usually a challenge for parents. He takes a long time to learn, and you may wonder if he is ever going to get it. Yes, this child takes instruction, but he doesn't seem to show any signs of learning. You wonder if your jumper is listening. You teach him again and again, but he doesn't seem to get it. Again and again you go over his homework, how to feed the dog or greet people, but he keeps forgetting. You wonder, where is my child's head right now? You wonder if anything is getting through, but then one day it clicks. You had no idea. Unfortunately what hinders a jumper from learning is the parent or teacher who gives up on the child.

Some children are runners in one area and jumpers in another area. And in the area where the child is a jumper, he may be uncooperative and resistant, but that doesn't mean the child is low in this area of intelligence. It could be the area in which the child has his greatest strength.

In addition, just because he is runner in one area, doesn't mean he will excel in that area. The easiest path does not always correlate with the area of the greatest strength.

Take note, different children have different strengths. Don't compare, instead try to discover each child's uniqueness, and encourage him to grow and reinforce the growth. Be patience.

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Intelligence Differences

Children come with different personalities and different types of intelligence.
Are you aware of the eight kinds of intelligence, and the fact that each child is born with a unique distribution of each? Some of these intelligence types may surprises you:


1. Emotional Intelligence: Some children have strong emotional intelligence and have a unique ability to establish and maintain healthy relationship with others and themselves. They are able to handle feelings and empathize.


2. Academic Intelligence: Those who have strong academic intelligence do well in school, for they can sit, listen, learn and absorb and comprehend. Yet, it doesn't mean they can apply all this knowledge or use it constructively in life.


3. Physical Intelligence: These children do well at sport, as well as maintain their bodies in a positive way. Example ballet dancer.


4. Creative Intelligence: These children have a more developed imagination. When the imagination is stimulated, it grows. They often think differently, are more original and create in their own way.


5. Artistic Intelligence: The children are interested in drawing, writing, acting, singing, playing instrument and so on.


6. Commonsense Intelligence: These children are practical rather than intellectual. They want what is relevant and useful. They want to apply what works.


7. Intuitive Intelligence: Information simply just come to the children rather than being taught or told. It is as if they have sixth sense and can understand information without having to study all the details.


8. Gifted Intelligence: The children are good at certain types of intelligence, but not as good at others. It seems that all their eggs end up in one basket. They may need to develop their special skills, as well as get help for other kinds of intelligence.


So which types of intelligence is your child gifted?

Two children may be gifted in the same area of intelligence, but they may reflect it differently because of variables such as personality and environment.

Most important, if a child focuses only on his or her strengths, the child misses out on other parts of life, which creates imbalance.

Our task as parents is not to fall into the trap of encouraging our children's strength alone but to encourage other areas as well.

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