Supporting Your Child’s Dreams

supporting child's dreams

“When I grow up I’d like to be a truck driver! No, a ballerina! No… a garbage man!”

How many times has your child approached you with a new dream? Perhaps he or she has been utterly dedicated to a single profession for as long as you can remember. Whatever your son or daughter’s dream, it’s important to remember that he or she is undoubtedly seeking your support and approval; why else would they spend hours at a time talking about the places they’d like to go, or the jobs they’d like to hold down, if not to appeal to your wisdom, wit, and awesome abilities to make those dreams happen? Whether your child longs to become a star soccer player, a world famous actress, a doctor or teacher, or a refuse collector it’s up to you, as a parent, to encourage your child’s dreams and to support them no matter what; haven’t we all had unrealistic, or downright silly dreams at one time or another? A little gentle encouragement and a nudge in the right direction can do wonders for a child’s confidence and independence, and could be the difference between a dream realized and a forgotten ambition.

Dream a little dream: The role of a supportive parent

Dream big, little one. You undoubtedly want the very best for your little one, but how do you start supporting their dreams if they’re not necessarily the ones you’d have chosen?

Show a little interest

Regardless of how many times your child has changed his or her mind, and no matter what today’s big dream is, it’s so important to show interest when your child presents you with their latest plan for the future; parental encouragement, and approval, is absolutely vital for young children, helping them to build confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of the world around them. Talk about your little one’s dreams and hopes for the future, aim to understand their favorite sport or hobby, attend practices and cheer with enthusiasm, and ask questions so that your child has an opportunity to tell you everything they know; there’s nothing worse for a child than a parent’s disinterest, so engage with them as often, and as much, as you can.

Help your child to set realistic goals

While it’s incredibly tempting to agree that your child can, and will, achieve anything they put their mind to it’s important not to set your child up for a fall; yes, there’s every chance that he or she will grow up to be an astronaut, but is there another career path you could explore together too? Your child will look to you for guidance and support, but it’s also your responsibility to keep their feet on the ground. If you have doubts about the career path your child has chosen, or a hobby they’re intent on mastering, gently suggest a different way around things, ensure he or she has a realistic idea of what to expect and discuss the challenges that may occur along the way. Does your child have a handle on time management, perseverance, and the idea of responsibility? Now is the time to confront unrealistic goals, help your child to develop self-confidence, and create a plan for meeting every marker along the way.

Equip your child for success

As well as offering words of encouragement and a wealth of advice, supporting your child’s dream can be as simple as ensuring they’ve got the right equipment for the job; has your budding artist got an easel upon which to practice, and the colors to create the perfect picture? Does your construction worker of tomorrow have a set of toy tools to get to grips with? Children that are holding onto a sporting dream are perhaps the most tricky to equip, as they’ll need general clothing and training devices as well as more specialist equipment; have you considered, for example, compression clothing to ensure your child is as protected as he or she can be from the elements and the stresses and strains associated with exercise? The Tommie Copper official Facebook page is a great place to start for any parent of a sporty child, allowing you to quickly identify the kit your little one is likely to need in order to reach for success.

Celebrate achievements and prepare for failure

No parent ever wants to think about their child failing, but it’s important to give your little one a grounding in reality; for every ‘well done’ there will be a ‘better luck next time’, and it’s your responsibility to ensure that no set back is ever great enough to deter them completely. Prepare to talk frankly about your child’s dreams, the likelihood for success, and the other avenues that could be explored if the current one doesn’t work out. More importantly than anything, though, is to be prepared to applaud each effort that your child undertakes, even if they don’t immediately lead to success; a ‘well tried’, or ‘good effort’ for every challenge attempted is far more rewarding than a ‘well done’ reserved only for a win; your child needs to hear that they’re on the right path, regardless of how fast they’re traveling.

Supporting your child’s dream, no matter how unimaginative, unrealistic, or laughable it is, is incredibly important. Do you remember a time when your childhood dream was ignored, chuckled at, or ripped from beneath you? There’s a chance that moment still stings, and so imagine your own child experiencing similar disappointment. Dreams are wonderful things to have, giving children focus, enjoyment, and a drive to succeed; as parents we’ll often do anything we can to give those dreams meaning, and grounding in reality. Whether you’re offering moral support, attending practices or shows, or simply saying ‘congratulations’ for a job well done, supporting your child’s dreams now will stand them in good stead for the future; there is no greater gift than belief.

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