How often do you have conversations with your children or young people about what they could be when they are older?
We have conversations in our house all the time. Yes, it changes wildly, from year to year, sometimes day to day, BUT it’s really important that children and young people have something to aim for or work towards. More and more often I’m discovering a pattern emerging in the young people I assess and coach.
It has NOTHING to do with academic ability because this doesn’t define us. Often the young people with more significant academic struggles have already found their niche and they are already preparing and developing their skill set, be it music, swimming, water sports, talking, or sometimes entrepreneurship! The ones who have an idea of what they are aiming for or working towards have better emotional well-being and seem more able to ask for help and are driven towards their goals. The ones who have no idea where they are heading find it difficult to be motivated, and often lack purpose which impacts their emotional well-being negatively and can often see them flounder.
So, make sure you have those conversations with your children from a young age.
Nurture their talents, develop their skill sets and encourage them to try new and different things. It’s our role as parents and guardians to encourage, inspire and educate our children on the endless possibilities. Don’t put a limit on what they can be or achieve because we have NO idea what they are capable of.