[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Most children were born with one or more talents but never get the opportunity to realize or hone them. It is important to help children identify their talents early enough so that they can be in a better position to realize their potentials. In the past, children’s talents were overlooked with schools owing to their narrow perception of intelligence which failed to take into consideration how students portray their talents and abilities.
Identifying talents and abilities in children should be a collaborative undertaking by both parents and the school.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”What families are required to do” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23704825″ google_fonts=”font_family:Salsa%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Every parent regardless of his or her level of education and financial status can aid his or her child to realize and work on their talents. Some of the ways families can achieve this are:
Watch your child to identify moments of ignition
When a child’s identity becomes aligned with a specific objective, that child experiences triggers and motivation to get things done. This is an essential time for parents to realize what their children are good at and expose them to more practice to work on what they love.
Play with your child-Engaging in play with your child helps a parent to realize what they enjoying doing and what they are good at. With this realization, parents should present the children with adequate opportunities to practice what they love and good at doing.
Applause your child’s efforts not his or her natural ability-Praising children’s natural abilities make them relax and avoid taking risks. However, when we praise their effort in, they react by taking more risks which results in more enhanced learning and practice. Besides, they appreciate making mistakes and see them as learning opportunities.
Take your child to places that support what they love doing-After realizing the child’s interests, a parent should look for places within the community where such interests as well as enrichment activities are supported.
Take a course that teaches parents to develop their children’s talents-Such a course is essential to enable parents to identify talents and abilities in their children with ease.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Working with Schools” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23704825″ google_fonts=”font_family:Salsa%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Parents play a critical role in their children’s education. Parents ought to realize that their children are entitled to good education. Besides, they need to work collaboratively with the school to support their children’s talents. The different ways parents can collaborate with schools to aid the development and nurturing of children’s talents are:
Requesting the school to offer training on identification of children’s talents-Schools should offer training to teachers and parents to equip them with the skills required to be able to identify talents and abilities among children.
Lobbying schools to conduct unbiased assessment of children abilities-Schools should be able to take into consideration the abilities of all children.
It is important for both parents and schools to direct their efforts to identifying children’s talents early enough so that they can realize their potential.
Children have different talents and abilities; as a parent, make sure you support your child to realize his or her talent and work towards honing them.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”References” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23704825″ google_fonts=”font_family:Salsa%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Gagné, F. (2008). Talent development exposing the weakest link.
Lohman, D. F., & Foley Nicpon, M. (2012). Ability testing and talent identification. Identification: The theory and practice of identifying students for gifted and talented education services, 283-335.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]