Encouraging Your Child's Natural Talents

One of the most fun parts of being a parent is discovering what talents your children have. The first time a little girl gets up on her toes and dances like a ballerina is enough to make any Daddy beam. The first time a little boy gets out on the ice and falls on his behind is a laugh a Mom will cherish her entire life. We're so lucky that we get to be parents and experience childhood from two different perspectives. In today's busy world it can be a challenge to find the time to do all the things expected of us. I think it's very important to make time to discover your child's natural talents and abilities. Here are a few ways I believe will help you encourage your child to be all they can be.

Be Open To Trying Any and Every Sport:
When children are very young, they're not sure what they'll like. They need to try things out at least a time or two before they know if they even enjoy it. Sports are so incredibly good for kids. Being involved in sports can bring out so many good qualities in a child. Getting your children involved in sports keeps them healthy but that's not the only benefit. Sports bring out a sense of leadership in many people. Being a part of a team and learning to work with others to achieve a common goal is also of major benefit to any child involved in team sports. I say be open to trying all sports because there are so many you can try. Your child may not be crazy about soccer or baseball but they might shine playing basketball or hockey. They'll never know which sports they love unless they're exposed to each and have a chance at being involved in each. It's a commitment for parents to sign their children up and follow through with a whole season of any sport. The benefits are huge. Parents will get priceless time going to games and talking on the way to and from each. If you're on a limited budget, you can still try out most sports with very little spending. Use your imagination and go to places that have lost and found boxes. Most places are willing to let go of any item in the box if they know it's been there awhile and someone needs it. You can also look on the Internet at sites that have free areas. Many cities have used sporting equipment stores with greatly reduced prices on most items. Whatever it takes, I'd advise getting your child involved in sports from an early age, on.

Sing and Play!:
My son wasn't even born yet before I began singing to him. I've believed in the benefits of music exposure my entire life. I have a love for music that thankfully was nurtured by my entire family. You can't start too early. Singing with your child from an early age can forge bonds and memories that will last for the rest of your life. If you don't have any instruments in your house, get some. It doesn't matter if you play an instrument yourself or not. Look for deals on instruments your young children can play with and not worry. I've always had a variety of musical instruments in my house for my son to play with. I leave them out where they're always easily accessible. I have guitars and tambourines along with a flute and a piano. My son has always been encouraged to enjoy all of them. He never took to the flute or guitar. He did however discover a love for the piano. As soon as I was able to find a teacher for him , he was enrolled in piano lessons. I honestly believe that one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is music. Even just encouraging your child to sing is so healthy. It's a beautiful tingling experience when you hear your child master a song. If you offer your children a variety of instruments to play with, you may stumble upon a hidden talent. I'd suggest always leaving your instruments out and available. As your child grows, he or she may discover the different instruments over and over.

Give them space to draw or paint:
I was extreme about this freedom with my son. He was never scolded for drawing on the walls or furniture in my house. Now I know this isn't something that every parent could live with. I do however feel that each child should have some space that is completely theirs to do what they wish with. As my son got older, I only allowed him to draw or paint on the walls in his own room. I'd recommend this to any parent. My son absolutely loved drawing and painting on his walls. He's done it his whole life and still does. He has turned out to be such an incredible artist. He's nineteen now and his walls have been painted over many times. Right now he has several different paintings on his walls. Some are so good that it will break my heart to paint over them. When I see him drawing or painting , I feel that I did something really right. If you can't bring yourself to allow your child to draw or paint on walls, at least have pencils and crayons on hand at all times. When you're tempted to sit your toddler in front of the television for a short break, give them a pad of paper and something to draw with instead. Let them use their imagination and draw anything they feel like. Even if your child doesn't have a great deal of talent artistically, it's still a wonderful way for them to express themselves. Children are often able to draw out feelings they can't quite express verbally. You might not be able to see all that's in what they produce. That really doesn't matter. What matters is that they get the chance to express themselves.

Encourage friendships:
The more friends your children have, the more variety in life they'll have. The old saying about variety being the spice of life is so true. By meeting people from all walks of life, we're exposed to things we might never even think of otherwise. Your child might never think to try tap dancing. But, if they meet another child that takes dance lessons, they may want to join. As your children get older, it's more important than ever that they have a good social network of friends. The older your child gets, the more they'll want to experience. Parents often have a hard time with worrying and so on. The easiest way to avoid that is to get to know your child's friends. Have them over to your house and be friendly and open with them. Be great at listening and laughing with them. Find out for yourself what each kid does for entertainment. When you hear children talking about something they love to do , you'll feel more comfortable letting your child participate. Be a part of it all and love being a parent. Go to games or recitals as often as you can. Take your child to watch their friends doing whatever is their passion. They may discover even as they get older that they want to try new things and uncover hidden talents of their own.

An open mind and a variety of activities are most important to nurturing your child's natural talents. Giving of your time and energy is also key in helping provide your child with the exposure and tools to develop a hidden talent. Our children are all such beautiful and unique creatures. We're so lucky to live in a world where we can be so many different and wonderful things. If your child doesn't care for one thing, there's always another thing to try. Take advantage of this. Let your child be great at whatever they are naturally great at. Have the time of your life discovering just what that might be with them. Just don't forget to bring along the camera!