Believing in your child makes a world of difference – Lessons from Joseph Schooling’s Parents

As Joseph Schooling’s Olympic feat swept the nation, many people also came to know his parents- Colin and May Schooling. His parents have made Joseph the centre of their lives, supporting his every move and exuding unshakeable belief in his ability. Their secret to parenting Joseph Schooling was believing in him and that belief by his parents Joseph Schooling was very clear. His parents believed in him and they are always there for him.  Your child needs the same belief from you to unlock his/her full learning potential!

Form the Child, not the Parents

As May Schooling said,” The passion stems from him… I did not push him…”. One of the most foremost things that drive giftedness in your child is that it must come within their heart and soul. It means the child must be self-motivated to pursue excellence in their work. Therefore it is always more effective to praise the EFFORT than the end results. You should catalyse on your child’s internal motivation and drive to unlock his/her learning potential. Empowering your child to strive for his/her best is an intricate process.

A Conducive Learning Environment

Providing a responsive, safe and stimulating environment will allow your child to learn and develop his/her skills. Coupled with active parental involvement and parental love, this development can be multiplied within a short frame of time. When parents supply complex and challenging activities e.g. puzzles in a safe and loving environment, children often rise up to the occasion and are more confident to try.

• They are less afraid of mistakes and are willing to look for creative solutions.
• Invest time and effort to create opportunities for special moments with your child e.g. bedtime story-time, playing a sport together. Show your child that he/she can trust and depend on you! When your child trusts you, your child would listen to your advice and look upon you for direction in times of stress.
• In order for your child to achieve his/her full potential, you must first identify what is unique about your child and develop that uniqueness. Observing your child at different situations and have regular conversations will allow you to find out your child’s talents and what he/she loves to do.