Written by Christine Kritzas, Counselling Psychologist at The LightHouse Arabia and Co-creator of Smart Heart Board Game
1. Walk your talk:
Kids don’t do what you say; they do what you do. If parents model confident behavior (i.e. take risks, try out new things, approach tasks with optimism, etc.), then it permits their children to do the same.
2. Encourage kids to take risks & make mistakes:
Kids need to be taught that failure is not the opposite of success; it is on the path to success. Knowing this will make them more likely to attempt anything in life.
3. Teach your kids the “Power of Yet”:
This empowers them to adopt a growth mindset and learn that they are capable of acquiring new skills and talents. If your kid says “I can’t play the piano,” encourage them to add “yet” to the end of that sentence: “I can’t play the piano YET”…which then allows for them to buy time to learn that skill and teaches them that anything is possible… because when there is a will, there is a way!
4. Encourage independent thinking:
“What do you think?” is one of the most powerful questions a parent can ask a child. When your child comes to you with a problem, don’t immediately try to fix it. Instead, ask your child what s/he thinks a solution could be. This way, you teach your kids to think for themselves and to engage in independent problem-solving.