Seeing obstacles as opportunities, however, isn’t natural. We’re wired to protect ourselves and our kids. But there are incredible opportunities if we can help our children choose courage. Here are 5 ways to raise kids who can see obstacles as opportunities for growth.
1. Embrace emotions.
How we feel can teach us a lot about ourselves. What rises in us when we encounter challenges? Fear? A sense of helplessness? When your children encounter obstacles, help them identify how they feel and help them process those emotions. Then work with them to develop concrete ideas for taking the next step.
“For kids to be capable of seeing obstacles as opportunities, we need to give them the space to problem-solve.”
2. Be quick to listen, slow to speak.
For kids to be capable of seeing obstacles as opportunities, we need to give them the space to problem-solve. This means we need to hold back when we want to jump in and give answers. The key here is to become good at asking questions and at allowing our kids the space to sort it out as much as possible before we offer advice.
3. Celebrate grit, not accomplishment.
If our children are convinced that what they must do to succeed is win, then seeing obstacles as opportunities will be increasingly difficult. Instead, obstacles will look like threats. And when we are threatened, we tend to avoid or run rather than engage. But if we can learn to celebrate grit—the effort a person puts into a task—rather than the outcome, we can free up our children to face obstacles with much greater certainty that it will turn out OK.
4. Model healthy risk-taking.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Of course, the reality is the exact opposite. Our kids are far more likely to copy our behaviors than our instructions. If that’s the case, we need to model healthy risk-taking. It might be as simple as introducing yourself to the new neighbor or talking about taking a new job. It doesn’t have to be skydiving or bungee jumping. Seeing obstacles as opportunities is possible in everyday activities.
5. Debrief after success and failure.
Sometimes your kids will conquer the obstacles; other times, they won’t. Debrief after the experience. Talk about what they’re learning, why they think they failed (or succeeded), and what, if anything, they’d do differently next time. Debriefing after failures or successes is a key tool in a parental arsenal to help a child interpret his or her experiences and learn from them.
I always tell my parents of young athletes to ask them questions and listen to them, don't answer them, listen.
You can ask them, "What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?”
Remember, listen.
Until next time,
Coach Nye
*Additional information from All Pro Dad
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