This is a collaborative post
As with everything in life, parents have many expectations for their children, the top being happiness and success. These are easily attained through one thing, hard work. Raising a hard-working child can be done simply by how you speak to them. Many believe that praising a child for being smart or ‘a natural’ is the way to ensure that they will continue to work hard. However, this can actually do the opposite and make them think that ease and success come with little work for them. Here are some top tips from this senior school in Cambridge on how to raise a hardworking child.
Focus on effort
Rather than focusing on the outcome of your child’s work, the small tweak of focusing on their effort will completely change the way your child thinks. Remind your child they succeeded due to their hard work and not because they are deemed as smart. Try and avoid celebrating the goals and focus on the method they took to get to where they are. Praise them for not giving up as that can be so very easy to do. Through this, your child will learn to see challenges as a good thing rather than something to be afraid of.
Be sure not to praise them too much
This may seem like a harsh thing to hear, but children who are praised too often grow up to believe that they don’t need to work for things as they possess the talents needed to get there. This can also lead to an arrogant mindset. Save the praise for the times that it matters as your child will work harder to hear it. Praising them for something that you know they are capable of doing will only lead them in the opposite direction.
A hardworking child truly sources from the approach their parents take to lead them to success.