Exploring and Encouraging Talents and Skills

Preschoolers and kindergartners tend to gravitate toward activities that they find enjoyable and which they are good at. As parents, we try to encourage natural talents and skills, but how do we know what our kids are interested in? As kids grow and develop, most parents notice that they go through stages of interest. At times, our kids gravitate toward a particular activity and at other times, they don't appear to be at all interested.

One of the tricks to encouraging talents and skills in children is to provide opportunities for them to enhance their skills while they are interested. This sounds trickier than it is. Many times, kids lose interest in something simply because it isn't enjoyable, it provides little challenge, it provides too much challenge, or it gets boring. When you notice that your child has a particular interest in something, and that he seems to enjoy that activity, take advantage of his interest and encourage his talent.

Exploring Talents: Balance is Key

Let's say that you notice your preschooler has a particular interest in the outdoors. It may be a good idea to sign him up for outdoor groups like Scouts. But, it's also important to encourage him to explore his interests in many ways. Don't allow his interests to become so exclusive that he has no interest in anything else. For instance, you can not only encourage him to participate in outdoor activities, you can also encourage him to read about the outdoors and watch nature specials on television. Broadening the "outdoor" activity in a way that includes reading and watching not only broadens his skills, but encourages him to communicate in other ways. He may find that he not only has an interest in the outdoors but he may develop a love of reading as well.

Encouraging your child's talents and skills is all about providing opportunity. Let him branch out and explore in a way that feels comfortable to him. Provide as many opportunities for exploration as you can. These opportunities don't have to cost anything, but may be invaluable to your child in the long run.