Understanding Your Child’s Strengths and Weaknesses

<blockquote><h1>“It is not once nor twice but times without number that the same ideas make their appearance in the world.” - <i>Aristotle</i></h1></blockquote><h1>A Change in Method</h1><p>For a long time, school systems have concentrated on specific ways of instructing students. The idea was to focus the brain in a way that helps people fit perfectly into the corporate landscape. Over time, the way things are made has drastically changed, especially during the industrial revolution. These older methods may have worked well at one point, but times have changed, along with the way we teach the next generation. Today, the focus is on ways to open up a child's inner brilliance.&nbsp;</p><h1>A Change in Focus</h1><p>As we all know, dependency on devices is growing. Machines are becoming more intelligent, and people are relying on these devices more and more to assist us in our daily lives. While this evolution is taking place, it’s important not to ignore our potential and accept our inability to match the robust calculations of algorithms by computers going forward. The so-called conventional means of learning have no meaning now and will need to be revamped along with much of the world's day-to-day processes. We now have mountains of data available on different styles of learning, the next step is to formulate a new method that can help children learn to enhance their potential rather than focusing on obsolete skills. We should be able to focus only on the skills that allow us to ultimately become masters of our lives and propel the world forward to a new era.&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p style="text-align:center;"><i><strong>No one can be in control of your life other than yourself.&nbsp;</strong></i></p></blockquote><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As they mature, the next generation is less interested in living on other people's terms, preferring to be well informed with full control of their choices. There’s a delta between how they were taught and what they want in life. Education systems should help newer generations become happy, grounded, resilient individuals.&nbsp;</p><p>Thankfully, in today's modern world, some exciting things can still be done to help a child's natural intelligence blossom. People want to be more than just another cog in the machine.</p><h3>Focus on natural talents</h3><figure class="image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/itC0fMhGGOkjmHlijEUYAg8V-_efo86PwW829Fasg_7yFJ90F-fGXIXQg_DYgvFHn2w3BKtApV2VbLrbZi60AQnCPsmPBvjlGE0HIIZklsDdecMJIciig7g3oIxIqA"></figure><p>Every person is naturally bestowed with some innate capabilities. When it comes to using those capabilities, it seems second nature. It doesn’t require much rigor, training, constant reminders, or, more importantly, additional motivation. People are almost always front runners in areas where they have these innate skills. For example, my son naturally loves to talk and express himself in different ways. When it comes to expressing an opinion or even revealing the fact that he has learned, he is always the first one to give his 2 cents. It's easy to get him into a monologue to describe what he understands about various topics, and his authority on any subject automatically is immediately apparent. That's my cue to realize that he is a natural speaker, and all I need is to find a way to channel his natural abilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Different Personalities</p><p>Children can exhibit patterns of behavior that indicate a tendency to reject specific methods and processes. Certain things may seem like more of a struggle for them compared to others around them. We may observe moody behavior when it comes to tasks or activities. And a pattern of resistance, you can take that as a hint that they may need help to get past whatever it is that's blocking them. An excellent example of this may be a child unwilling to help with one activity but is ok with others. There could just be something about the process that's conflicting with their personality. It helps to discuss the process involved to understand individual comfort levels. Or you can try to break the task down into smaller milestones to help identify where they're getting stuck. Once they understand the reason for a block, it becomes easier to make sense of why certain subjects come naturally</p><h3>Help them understand themselves</h3><p>Helping your child build awareness about themselves is a very potent way to get them to make corrections on their own. The more kids understand what is easy for them or why they dislike something, the more they're able to find different ways to keep themselves motivated to learn. When they get to know themselves, they can also understand the best way of learning for them, and they should be able to explain why. As a parent, you just need to have an open mind to hear what they are saying and incorporate their suggestions in learning.&nbsp;</p><h3>A Problem-solution approach</h3><p>I do this activity at home called the problem-solution game. I pick my child's least favorite subject and go through one concept to see if he understands what’s being taught. Then we can define problems related to the idea and come up with solutions. Through the process of identifying a problem, he’s able to quickly come up with possible answers and is able to explain what he’s done.&nbsp;</p><h1>Final Thoughts</h1><p>These are just a few exciting ways I have seen and used that may help your children get past any learning roadblocks. It’s not always easy to handle these challenges, as teaching often requires the right amount of patience and some amount of getting over our own weaknesses as adults. Once we realize our own patterns, we can begin to better understand our children. As a parent, the more you can put yourself in your child's shoes, the better equipped you are to help your child succeed.</p>

It’s not always easy to handle these challenges, as teaching often requires the right amount of patience and some amount of getting over our own weaknesses as adults.

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Understanding Your Child’s Strengths and Weaknesses