As I think about how my teaching and parenting shapes the future of our children, I am constantly thinking about who these children will become especially my own. How can I provide the best environment? How can I model the behaviors and values that I want to instill in them? I reflect over the years on the hundreds of children that I have touched and the stories that I have heard. What I realized is that the only limitations they have are the ones that are placed on them.
Think about when they learn to walk. If they fall, do you gasp and say be careful? When you are teaching them something, do you correct them and give them the “right” answer or let them explore their way of seeing it. How are we limiting a child’s ability to risk? How are we boxing in their thinking? Shouldn’t we just guide them, pick them up and let them try again? Maybe listen to their answer and explore the possibility that there are several correct answers. With every phrase that leaves my mouth, I think about how it affects their actions and how it molds who they become. A bit much? Maybe…but we should at least be cognizant of the fact that we have a greater influence than we may realize.
If you didn’t read my post on schools killing creativity, there is a fabulous video that supports this.
How can you further your child’s potential?
