One of the amazing joys of parenting is watching as our child’s individual personality unfolds—including interests, specialties, gifts and talents. Some of those gifts and talents can be hidden—just waiting for a little prompting and nurturing to come out and see the light of day. As parents, we can help our children discover their special gifts and talents—as well as help nurture them along as they grow and develop.
Providing children with a variety of experiences and exposure to diverse ideas and activities is one of the best ways to help children discover their special gifts. This can be hard if you are a family who has a tendency to be drawn to certain things—say, sports or dance. A very non-athletic child growing up in a sports-oriented family may not find a way to discover and express his natural gifts. Making sure that you include all sorts of different activities, ideas and adventures will help to unearth hidden interests.
Look for things that spark your child’s interest or seem to give her pleasure. An interest or talent can lead to more if those sprouts are given a little room to grow. Making sure that your child gets plenty of time to explore his or her own interests and his or her own style of play is also important. Not every activity should be directed or associated with a class or group. We often discover things about ourselves when we have the space and quiet time to just be “in our own little worlds” for a while.
Finally, I think it is important for parents not to get too emotionally attached or involved with a child’s talents or interests. It is one thing to be encouraging and supportive, another to make ourselves TOO involved. We can teach our children respect and good boundaries by letting them decide what to do and how to use their own talents and gifts—without our having to be in charge.
See Also: School Isn’t the Only Place to Get Educated and Using Tools of Your Trade to Teach Your Kids