Nurturing the Genius in your Child
Just recently, I was invited by “Rise and Shine” to attend a Parenting Workshop by Dr. Thomas Armstrong. He is a renown expert in child development and is an award-winning author and speaker in learning and human development. Being featured on television networks and publications such “CNN”, “BBC”, New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, it was going to be interesting to talk to this expert on child development.
Although it was a weekend, it was heartening to witness so many Parents at this Parenting talk held by S-26. We parents are definitely fervent in helping our children fulfil their potential and Mummy Bloggers were there in force! Personally, I have not read any of Dr. Thomas Armstrong’s books before, and I was enthused to find out, how we can help children develop cognitively. I was encouraged by what I found out from this expert!
According to Dr. Armstrong, there are 12 qualities in every Genius. They are:
- Curiosity
- Playfulness
- Imagination
- Creativity
- Wonder
- Inventiveness
- Vitality
- Sensitivity
- Flexibility
- Humour
- Joy
Yes! These are qualities that we see in every child, and as nurturing Parents, we need to celebrate these qualities in every child. As highlighted by every developmental expert, the need for a functional family was once again highlighted, as impediments to healthy growth can be attributed to dysfunctional families
An interesting development is that there are also dangers posed by Fast Tracked Families. This means that we should not Fast Track our children to read or to do assessment sheets, as the stress put on a child, shuts down the brain. Testing and Grading, further does nothing to encourage the genius, as grades puts them in a box, and deters their development.
To encourage and reawaken the Genius in our kids, we play a significant part. Role modelling plays an important role, as if we want our kids to read, we must read ourselves. Personally, I felt this was an important point, as if I don’t want my kids to be computer addicts, I got to spend less time on the pc myself, and more time on my books!
I was also fascinated by the fact that Simple experiences will suffice in a child’s development. Einstein was intrigued by a compass when he was 4, and it sparked the curiosity in him, as the magnetic needle was always pointing to the magnetic North. Ever noticed how our kids always play with their toys for just an hour, and they don’t go back to the same toy anymore. Therefore our children are not necessary disadvantaged, if they have inexpensive toys, as a simple compass can do the trick!
And to further Create the Genius climate for our children, we can:
- Give them the Freedom to Choose
- Open Ended exploration
- Freedom from judgment
- Honour Every Child’s Experience
- Believe in every Child’s Genius
- Optimal Nutrition
After the talk, we were invited for an informal One-on-One session with our Expert at the Cafe “Table Manners”. This was where we could ask the expert and get his opinion on issues that we faced as a Parent.
One of the questions brought up by a Parent, was the importance of Nutrition. It was good to note that S26 is strong in this area, as S26 formula contains up to 5x more DHA, 40% more Lutein and 20% more Choline as compared to its previous formula.
With children learning in many multiple ways – seeing, thinking and doing. Good nutrition helps support overall growth and development in these 3 key areas.
I asked Dr. Thomas Armstrong, what are some “Must-Do” strategies that he would encourage to ensure a healthy climate for our kids.
As each child is different, he stressed the importance of observing every child! Find out what makes them tick, and encourage the child’s exploration in this area. It is also important to encourage these qualities in moderation. When he was younger, he loved the piano, and his father made him play for all his friends besides the many piano lessons. His Dad also bought him many pianos and a Steinway as well. He acknowledged that his Dad did go “overboard”, and this was counter-productive in nurturing his love for the piano. Moderation and an ability to step back and observe is important, when we go out to nurture the Genius in our kids!
I was greatly enriched by the talk given by Dr. Thomas Armstrong, and it was also timely to hear about the importance of nutrition. Besides the right nurturing climate, we need to ensure that our kids get the right amount of nutrition to ensure healthy development. Many Thanks to Rise and Shine and S-26 for making this all possible!