Being successful in life and your career means different things to you than it does someone else. You may be defined by factors like how well you interact with your superiors or subordinates. You may also define yourself by your strides to move up the corporate ladder. Some people classify their success based on the amount of money in their bank account or by how much money they bring home each payday.
The real test is how others perceive you. If they know you inside and outside of the company, what do they think of your character? At the end of the day, your life is not defined by your tangible success, but in how good of a person and parent you were.
Fostering Creativity… Is It Necessary?
Most parents want their children to be successful in life. They want to foster interests in business and personal things. However, there is no recipe for how to raise a successful child.
Some say that it is better to just let them go and develop naturally. There is no reason to interfere with the process, and in time, life will do its thing. Consequently, some parents cannot sit idly by and allow their children’s future to be left to time and chance.
They feel that they must be more proactive than reactive later. Is there something to fostering creativity in a child?
“Every child is an artist,” or so Pablo Picasso thought. He further went on to say that people have problems remaining an artist once they are grown. The very creativity that is instilled in a child sparks their imagination and their innovativeness, and all of these are intertwined.
A single spark of imagination has the potential to motivate a person’s dreams from the imaginary world into the physical one. In return, some will result in innovativeness. Everyone is an artist in their own way. It just depends on how much they train and nourish their skills that counts.
Interaction with The Adult World Is Key
A child is like a sponge. They soak up everything they see, hear, and touch. They look to their parents and other grown-ups as idols. Many people love eating out for the conveniences. However, a home cooked meal is not only better for your nutritional needs, but it is also good for the developing mind.
It is something that you can do with your child. Cooking is a blend of science and chemistry altogether. The result is a delicious meal that was a great learning experience. You can use the preparation time to develop the senses, ideas, and you will use plenty of math.
Many parents deny their child the privilege of cooking with them because they are often in too big of a hurry. It seems easier to do it yourself. Weigh your priorities and allow the child to experiment with colors and textures. There is something special about making something with your own two hands, especially to a young child.
Many parents report that by allowing their child to help them cook, they are more willing to try new flavors. There is something about allowing the child to touch and smell the food that helps ease their fears and opens doors to new experiences.
Take Them on A Trip Through Yesteryear
Children won’t know anything about events and items made before they were born, unless you take the time to tell them. Make time to tell your kids about their ancestors and all their success stories.
Many families have people that came over to this country looking for freedom and work. Tell them about the struggles and triumphs. Let them know all about their lineage. With popular ancestry websites readily available, finding out about your family tree can be done with ease.
Also, if you ever organize a garage sale, allow your child to get involved. Tell them stories and events related to the items you’re selling. A young mind will find it easier to memorize your family history if they can link it to something tangible. The interesting details of your family history hiding behind the items found in your attic might motivate your child to develop a passion for archaeology, art or teaching. This kind of approach, where the child is actively involved helps develop their articulation, imagination and helps them know how to research history. Then, who knows, someday they might even make a real modern business out of these sales.
Teach Them the Value of Team Work
Teaching responsibility is something that many parents have a hard time doing. It’s often easier to mop the kitchen floor rather than clean up after their failed attempts. However, it is through those failed attempts that they learn how it is done properly. Make chore time fun.
While their childhood should be carefree, they also need to know that they have responsibilities. Everyone must do their part to make the household run smoothly. Kids can start learning responsibility at any age.
It’s stressful teaching a toddler to pick up their toys, but there is not always going to be someone there to do the work for them. They also need to know that their parents cannot manage the whole house and work jobs without help. This type of “grunt work” will teach them how to be a team player when they have a job.
Inspire, But Never Push
There is a fine line between inspiring and pushing a child. You don’t want to push your kid so hard that they are discouraged. Children tend to be rebellious when they are pushed to their limit. If there is an activity that your child no longer wants to pursue, don’t make them do it. Allow them to change their mind and their interests as they see fit.
Remember how many times you changed your mind about what you wanted to be when you grew up? One day they may want to fight fires and the next day they want to be a bank teller. It changes constantly.
Never push your child to walk in your footsteps. When it comes to college or careers, let them find their own path. Too many children regret their career choice because they feel like they were forced into it by their family.
All you can do is emulate positive social behaviors in front of them and hope they copy. This will set the foundation for success in both their education and their careers. What they choose is ultimately up to them.
Being A Positive Role Model Is a Good Place to Start
With one-fifth of children growing up in poor areas, it is a socioeconomic status that drives many. They can aspire to be something great to rise above, or they can remain at the same level they are accustomed to. For those who tend to do better, it’s usually because a parent was standing behind them pushing and cheering along the way.
It doesn’t take money to be a positive role model. It doesn’t take a fancy car or mansion to cook a meal and teach them something. All it takes is some time out of an already crazy schedule to help them model their future. Start with consistency in the small things, and soon they will be doing big things on their own.