It’s safe to say as parents, we have all have big aspirations for our children. We hope that they grow up they will be successful in life and raise a family of their own someday. However, is this the only path to success or do we fail to recognize that there’s more than one pathway to ‘success’?
We know that every child is unique, each with their strengths and weakness… so why do we restrict them to a single path of success? This can be intentionally done or unintentionally done by parents but I am not here to debate that. The fact is shouldn’t our kids get to dream and choose their own path? We as parents, must break down these stereotypes together to ensure our kids can dream their dreams with true freedom.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO LET YOUR KIDS DREAM?
Dreams give us the bigger picture of what we want to either experience or enjoy in life. They help our children think beyond their current reality and gives them a space to explore the impossible and empower them to make great change in the world. All this gives us great reasons to open the doors for our kids to dream big.
We know that kids are born with big imaginations and have an optimistic view of the world and see countless possibilities ahead of them. Unlike us adults, they don’t allow limitations and constraints to stop them. Sometimes it is easy to just dismiss a child’s dream as being whimsical or silly. But aren’t dreams what differentiates the great from the ordinary.
We must not limit our children to dream. The reality is history is filled with people who’s achieved the impossible only by visualizing their dreams before they became reality. Just because your child’s dream are bigger than what you can wrap your mind around, it doesn’t mean that they are impossible.
ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO DREAM
As adults, we obviously see things differently than our kids, but we must approach every conversation with an open mind and encouraging posture when they tell us their dreams. If we were honest we know that with odds stacked against them… that’s why dreaming as a family is so important. This allows them to look beyond themselves, and learn the great skill of working as a team.
Even though you are a parent now, when we were kids we dreamed about our future. Your parents may or may not have supported your dreams but whatever the case, don’t hold them back and be ready to listen and encourage them DREAM BIG.
We also must help our kids see there are a variety of dreams they can envision and pursue. Let them know that you support their dreams by being their biggest fan as they learn how to face obstacles and tear down barriers in their way. This will help them believe the impossible is possible. With you at their side and this will help them get past the fear of failure and stumbling blocks that pop up along their journey.
CREATE A PLAN
By having a plan this will allow us to create teachable moments for them by showing them that anything is possible with hard work and tenacity. What a great lesson to teach them!!!
Dreaming big is awesome but conquering them requires a plan. The first step is to brainstorm ideas with your child that will help them see a clearer path to achieving their dreams. Next you can do research with them and help them to create a more specific plan that measures their capabilities.
Now that your child has defined their goals and devised a plan to achieve it, you take on the role of their trusted advisor. You will be their source of inspiration, motivation, and ultimately their cheerleader to assist them along the way.
If we do this we will ensure that they have the confidence in life to follow any dream they have no matter how big and crazy they are. By guiding them along the way when they are young this will give them the tools and confidence they will need as adults to face the world and not let anything stop them from dreaming big audacious dreams!!!
