Getting Your Child to Try Something New

No one has to tell me that raising kids can be difficult. I have a couple! But asking kids to try new and different things can be a challenge. Especially when your child is predisposed to hating anything different. Getting your child to try something new is possible. Try this!

Meet Him Half Way

Compromise can be a mom's best friend. Don't be afraid to take a stand, but also realize that it has to sometimes be a soft one. If I want my son to try some different food, I don't expect him to eat a whole serving or spoonful. That's unrealistic and just not going to happen. But I do expect him to try it. Even if it is the tiniest amount. Sometimes he'll try it and say yuck. Other times, he'll say, I like it. But meeting him in the middle has taught him to trust me when it comes to trying something new, like food. When we wanted him to learn to swim, we eased into it. We listened to his complaints about water in his ears and got him some plugs. Now he swims like a fish.

Realize He or She is His Own Person

Remember that old song, "I Gotta Be Me?" Well, so does your kid. Sometimes we want our kids to play ball, try out for a team or just try something. What does your kid like? Does he have some talent that you are not yet celebrating? Celebrating what he does do good, could give him the confidence to try something slightly different. You may not be able to take him worlds away at first, but work on it. For instance, if he loves looking at the stars he would love being part of an Astronomy Club. Don't have one in your neighborhood? Start one. If your desire is for him to join a team sport, then you may have to abandon baseball for Team Science.

Just like any other part of parenting, identifying your child's strengths and using them for his advantage is key.