Successful kids are raised, not born. And while cultivating a successful mindset in your child may seem like a daunting task, there are simple measures you can take to ensure their success.
We all want our children to succeed and flourish in life. And while success can be different to different people, there are common things that tie it together. Scientifically speaking, researchers have found that certain traits in early childhood equate to success. Here are 6 of them.
1. Be a good role model.
A few years back, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted experiments in kids, with participants being as young as 15 months old. What they found was that when children saw their parents struggle and fail, and then overcome failure, they were more likely to be resilient and adaptive in life.
2. Teach them to utilize their strengths.
Chess prodigy Magnus Carlson was naturally good at chess from an early age, and his parents noticed this and encouraged it. As he got older and better, they entered him into tournaments, where he further demonstrated his skill. Now, he is a prodigy in the field. The lesson here is that if your child has a passion or strength, encourage it.
3. Emphasize the links between hard work and extraordinary outcomes.
In order to teach your child that hard work pays off, you must model it. Some of the most important teachings are shown and modeled, rather than just spoken about.
4. Motivate your child through values.
Rewards and punishment don’t create authentic motivation. For example, say you have a child who is doing poorly in school because they don’t want to do the work. Rather than punishing them, sit with them and explain why hard work in school is necessary, beneficial, and important. Give them real examples.
5. Teach them kindness.
Business school professor Adam Grant and his wife wrote a book about kids and kindness. According to Grant, “Boys who are rated as helpful by their kindergarten teacher earn more money 30 years later. Middle school students who help, cooperate, and share with their peers also excel compared with unhelpful classmates, they get better scores on standardized test scores.”
6. Give the right kind of praise.
While it may be tempting to praise your child by saying, “Of course you passed your science test- you are so naturally gifted!” It’s better to say, “You worked so hard to pass that test, I am proud of you.” The reason being is that this type of praise encourages them to work hard towards their goals, not to just accept that things will just happen for them, because they are gifted.