Success is no accident, it takes hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
For parents, success is something that children should be encouraged to achieve. However, in order for children to be successful, they must first be given the tools and habits that they need to benefit from the advice and words of wisdom from their parents.
Here are five parenting tips that will give you the guidance that you need to help your children be more successful in their current and future endeavors and it can improve your relationship with your child.
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
1. Set Goals
First, have your children set goals, no matter their age.
Goals are an incredible way to help your children achieve heightened levels of success. The goals that you set will need to be based on the specific needs of your child.
Younger children tend to thrive when they are given short term goals. It might be to “make the bed every morning,” or “read a book by the end of the week.”
No matter what the goal is, it should be designed so that they establish good habits.
2. Reward Achievements
It is important that your children are rewarded when they achieve their goals.
From giving them their favorite dessert to letting them play a game before bedtime, there are countless types of beneficial rewards that you can give your children when they achieve their goals.
Remember that the reward should match the level of the goal.
In other words, if your child achieves a minor goal, then they should receive a smaller reward. However, if your child achieves a major goal, then they should be given a larger reward.
The key to the latter strategy is to make sure that your child understands the different levels of goals and subsequent rewards. By understanding the system, your child can more effectively learn to not only achieve their goals but to also set goals of their own.
3. Create a Nurturing Environment
Create an environment where everyone shares their goals.
Success shouldn’t be a singular adventure.
Instead, success should be something that everyone can partake in and enjoy.
To create an environment that nurtures and supports success you can turn to a technique from the Kennedy family.
At dinner ask, “What is one thing you learned today? What is one thing you accomplished today?” These two subtle questions help children to recognize how they were successful in their own unique ways.
For example, they might have (successfully) learned how to solve a new type of math problem. They might have also climbed to the top of the rope ladder for the first time in gym that day.
No matter what thing was learned or accomplished, be sure to support your children as they discover the emotional and mental benefits of sharing their successes with the rest of the family.
4. Use Photographs
Using photographs helps to create a supportive environment.
Using specific photographs help to support your children on their journeys towards new levels of success.
Have them keep two photos in their room somewhere that is visible to them.
The first photograph should show your child completing an activity that they are good at.
For example, they might be holding a soccer ball next to the goal, or they might be holding up their latest piece of art.
The second photograph should show a happy family moment. For example, the second photograph might show the entire family watching Fourth of July fireworks or smiling before taking the ski lift on a family vacation.
No matter what photos you choose, you want your child to look at the pictures and remember that they are talented, loved, and surrounded by people who support them.
Through two simple photographs, you can help your children have high self-esteem, which leads to greater levels of success.
Your children can look at the photographs and receive the positive affirmations that they need to know that they are both loved and capable.
5. Create Vision Boards
Have your children create a vision board.
Just as you look ahead to achieving new goals in your personal and professional life, your children should also learn to look ahead to the future.
Fortunately, you can turn making a vision board into a fun family event. Once the family creates their own Vision Boards, have a family vision board party.
This will allow you to learn about your children’s goals, as well as share yours with them. By getting them in the habit of visualizing, you can encourage your children to visualize their future successes.
Whether it is getting an A+ on the upcoming Spanish test, or getting into the college of their dreams, visualization is a powerful tool that will help your children succeed throughout the various stages of their lives.
The bottom line here is…
Give your children all of the tools they need to succeed.
No matter their age, you can use the above tips to help your children achieve new levels of success.
In addition to the above tips, you can also encourage your children in middle school and high school to read books with positive messages, attend meditation sessions that will help them to achieve balance and focus, and listen to motivational talks that will inspire them to achieve greatness.
The Law of Attraction is also a fundamental key to success that is important for you, and your kids, to understand.
Through a cohesive system of setting goals, offering rewards, encouraging sharing, providing support, and embracing visualization techniques, you can help your children achieve heightened levels of personal and professional success. @JackCanfield (Click to Tweet!)
Do you have your children set goals? How are you instilling success habits in them?
As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre—and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of over 100 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul® franchise, Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success. Jack is America’s #1 Success Coach and wrote the life-changing book The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be and Jack speaks around the world on this subject. Check out his newest book The 30-Day Sobriety Solution: How to Cut Back or Quit Drinking in the Privacy of Your Own Home. Follow Jack at www.jackcanfield.com and sign up for his free resources today!
Image courtesy of Patrick Buck.
