We all want the best for our children, but how do we ensure that they not only survive but also thrive–today and in the future? For children to reach their full potential in school, the workforce and in life they need to acquire knowledge in many different areas. In addition they also need life skills so they make use of what they learn. What matters is not how much information can be stuffed into a child’s brain. What counts is whether we are able to help children develop a set of qualities, life skills that includes, persistence, and self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit and self-confidence.
Paul Tough, in his book How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character says, “the most valuable thing parents can do to help their children develop these qualities— may be to do nothing…Let our children face some adversity on their own, to fall down and not to be helped back up.” Not easy advice for a parent to follow, but who ever said good parenting was easy?
