What parent doesn’t want their child to succeed? In fact, he would go so far as to say that all parents would like their children to excel academically. Unfortunately, desire does not always equal knowledge. Here are some tips for parents to help raise children who are set up to succeed.
I recently read a news article that caught my attention: The Success Secrets of the Scholars Who Rock-Whiz Kids. After reading interviews with top students from local high schools, I thought it would be great if parents learned directly from the students themselves how to be an outstanding student. I am by no means suggesting that the strategies and techniques of these young Einsteins are the only way to become an outstanding student, but their plans are certainly worth reviewing.
For parents who may not have a plan, these students’ focus on competing and succeeding in school may be just what they need to build a foundation for their child’s plan for success. What I’ve done is synthesized their strategies into a parent-friendly list. You may think that since your child is only in elementary school, it may be a little early to put your game plan together. Well, one of the things I noticed while reading this article is that these students formed their habits as early as elementary school, long before their high school years. Remember, it’s about using your child’s ENTIRE academic career to instill the motivation, knowledge, and skills to compete and succeed. Here is the list:
* Make sure your child builds a network of friends that promotes a culture of success.
* Impress on your child that there is nothing wrong with “overachieving.” In fact, I think there really is no such thing as overachievement because each child sets their own level of achievement based on individual abilities.
* Teach your child to set high expectations and strive to exceed them.
* Impress your child to do more than is expected.
* Model success in your own families.
* Help your child maintain a balance: socializing and participating in extracurricular activities.
* Help your child understand the power of learning. Knowledge is really power.
* Give your child the tools to get organized.
* Do not obsess and help your child to do the same.
* Actively help your child set goals.
* Encourage your child to apply to the best colleges and universities for their area of focus.
* Remind your child to never pass up an opportunity.
* Make sure your child recognizes weaknesses and takes the initiative to overcome them.
* Encourage your child to get involved in clubs and organizations that are resume builders.
These strategies have been tested and proven effective by top academics. Using these techniques is just a start and may need to be adjusted depending on your child. Remember that parents can be the most important factor in a child’s success.