by sylvia guinan salis

Created on: March 21, 2009

HOW FAR SHOULD YOU PUSH YOUR CHILD TO SUCCEED?

All the way if "push" is taken to mean encourage, inspire and motivate. Not at all, if it means force and nag. When we impose beliefs on our children, we deny their integrity and thwart the unfolding of their unique life purpose.

WHO DEFINES SUCCESS?

For many parents success means academic achievement, followed by a lucrative, respectable career. The sad fact is that such a narrow definition is rife with age-old misconceptions. When we push our child through the mill of inflexible social expectation, we may eventually produce an adult who succeeds professionally but fails miserably as a human being.

THE WHOLE CHILD

As parents, it is not our job to create a future model citizen. Each child is born with untapped potential that will never be fulfilled, if we don't allow them to follow their desires. This does not mean that we should be overly permissive. It means that we should foster their emotional intelligence. By helping them to develop self esteem and ultimate confidence, we equip them with the wherewithal to choose the correct path in life. The child who has tapped into his own intelligence will blaze his own trail.

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

It is important to teach our children good habits, make sure they do their homework and always strive to do their personal best. However, we must also recognize that schools sometimes fail to recognize a child's individual learning style, thus pigeon holing our children and smothering their creativity.

TYPES OF INTELLIGENCE

1)visual/spatial means that your child thinks in pictures. He needs visual aids such as videos, maps and charts to learn effectively.

2)verbal/linguistic means that your child thinks in words and is good with language.

3)Logical/mathematical means that he is good with logic and numbers.

4)Bodily kinesthetic means that he expresses himself through movement and needs to use a total body response to learning, such as learning through doing practical activities.

5)musical intelligence

6)Interpersonal intelligence means that they empathize greatly with others and may need to work in groups and on collaborative projects/

7)Intrapersonal intelligence means that he has a deep understanding of himself, may be introspective and would do well with contemplative tasks.

8)Intelligence regarding the natural world, such as a special affinity with and understanding of animals, plants and insects. This is most rarely recognized in schools, yet many lessons such as mathematics or geography

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