Classroom Secrets: Set your child up for success

Here are seven strategies to make this school year the best yet.

1. Conceive the results you want to create. Every great discovery and accomplishment begins with a dream – a vision of an alternate reality. If you want your kids to have a great year, spend some time deciding what success looks like. How will you measure it? Marks? Number of friends? How happy they are? Try to get clear on the future realities they would like to create.

2. Know where you really are. If you’ve ever used a map to arrive at a specific destination, you know it’s important to know exactly where you are. The same is true with success. If you exaggerate or understate strengths and weaknesses, you are distorting the starting point. Be honest with yourself. Accurate starting points allow you to effectively plot a course towards success.

3. Believe in yourself or hold a belief for others. Kids will work towards goals they believe they have a chance of achieving. Luckily many kids are very confident in their own abilities (even overconfident) which is wonderful. However, there are times when they may need someone to help them believe in themselves. If they lose hope in their ability to shape the future, be their coach. Point out their progress and successes. Keep the vision alive until they can hold onto it themselves.

4. Shift from “problem-solving” to “creating.” Be aware of potential roadblocks or obstacles to success, but don’t focus on them. Instead, focus on actions that will help create the reality you desire. Things not going as planned? Don’t let that stop you from continuing to take positive action.

5. Get into and stay in action! Don’t let circumstances or people slow you down. Keep moving forward. Big steps, baby steps it doesn’t matter. They all get us closer to the goal.

6. Remember the 10,000 hour rule. Studies have shown that in order to become “world class” in almost any activity (sports, music, etc.), it takes about 10,000 hours of practice  – approximately three hours a day for 10 years. While this level of achievement may be beyond your scope, it does show that regular practice is critical to the development of any skill. How will you help your kids build regular practice into their days and weeks?

7. Stop, reflect, and make changes if needed. Finally, at the end of every day, week or month, take time to stop and check in on their progress.

To reach parenting and Youth Coach, Rob Stringer BA, BEd, CPC, visit www.YouthCoachCanada.com