Life has given each individual a fair share of strenghts and weaknesses. Every child has a particular struggle that may seem to be a challenge. However, your child’s challenges can be transformed to a strenght which can translate to opportunities.
Tips to turn your child’s challenges into strengths
- Not all weaknesses are challenges
As parents, it is easy to wish your child was a superstar at everything but in reality, no one is perfect. If your child is struggling in a particular subject and excelling at the other, focus on improving their strenghts instead of worrying about their weaknesses.
- Challenges are not failure
No matter the kind of challenges your child might have, do not see them as a failure simply because they cannot undertake a task that is supposedly easy for their peers. When you love them despite their challenges, it will give them the right environment to thrive without unncessary pressure.
- Speak to a counsellor
A child psychologist is the perfect professional to listen to the child’s insecurities and be in the position to encourage the child. There are opportunities in challenges. All the child needs to do is to look within, embrace these challenges and make the most of it.
- Provide emotional support
Challenges or perceived weaknesses can dampen the spirit of anyone lest of all, a child. If your child is struggling with an issue, provide the emotional support and strenghten them physically and mentally for the journey of life ahead.
Read more: How to increase your child’s self esteem
Look on the bright side
Albert Einstein had his struggles in life as a child. He struggled with dyslexia but today, he is certainly remembered for his great achievements. No matter the kind of disaability your child has, there is always someone who has been in the same position but has emerged conquerous.
- Understand your child
It’s always very tempting to want to interrupt your child and tutor him or her on how things should be done or how his peers are doing better. The first step towards helping your child is understanding and listening to the child. Give him a listening ear and try to understand his perspective and why he is struggling.
- Don’t sweep it under the carpet
No matter how silly your child’s complaints may sound, you should not ignore any warning. If it’s something that needs your advice, then honestly advise the child. And if the issue is beyond your control, seek professional help.
- Focus on strengths instead of weakness
Instead of focusing on what your child is doing wrongly, focus on where the child is excelling. Don‘t downplay the child’s struggles and at the same time, don‘t pretend it doesnt exist.
What you can do is gauge how your child is progressing with his struggles. When you pay so much attention to the child’s weaknesses, you tend to overlook his strengths. By encouraging the child in the areas he is very good at, you can build the foundation for offering help in the areas he isn’t doing so well in.
- Quit relying on your child for validation
Allow your child develop at his or her own pace. Your role as a parent is to encourage, guide and support your child and not to push him into becoming what you want him to be. A lot of parents project their dreams on the child at the detriment of their children’s happiness. Many parents who weren’t as successful as they wanted to be at their child’s age have this need to ‘force’ their children into achieving that which they couldn’t achieve during their time.
You are certainly not alone in wishing for more for your children.
Parents all over the world search online for help with children’s mental health, learning struggles or behavioral challenges. This shows that it is a serious issue. However, many of the kids have gone on to surprise their parents beyond their expectations when they were allowed to achieve success at their own pace.
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