Nurturing their talents

All children have abilities of one sort or another, though they don’t always reflect those of their parents.

Your child might be the first in the family to have a knack for gymnastics or a penchant for the piano. Talent can appear in any form, but may need drawing out in order to shine. Here are some tips for tapping and nurturing your child’s natural gifts.

Be on the look-out

Children don’t usually recognise their own talents, although they’ll pursue them instinctively. If your child shows a particular interest in the paint box, for instance, it could be a sign that they’re an artist in the making. They may not be doing much with their brush yet, apart from making a mess, but your patience will be rewarded as their talent matures.

Provide opportunities

Talents need openings to develop. If no opportunity arises for a skill to flourish, it may remain suppressed throughout a child’s formative years, after which it may be too late to develop it to its full potential. If a child has a flair for percussion, for example, it may not be set free until they get to bash a drum kit. It’s important to provide a range of opportunities for your child so that any hidden talents can emerge and blossom. You can do this by introducing them to different topics, games, skills and activities, and helping them to pursue them.

Nurture identified talents

Praise and encouragement will go a long way to developing your child’s recognised talents. Let them know you’re proud of their abilities and show an interest in the subject of their passion whether or not you share it. Look out for opportunities for them to demonstrate their skills to friends and relatives; their support will reinforce yours. Their school teachers may be able to provide openings for their talents, too. But for serious development, you may need to invest in private tuition and other support such as courses, competitions and equipment.

Provide background enrichment

When nurturing a talent in your child, take every opportunity to broaden and enrich their understanding of the subject, as this will guide and inspire their drive. Introduce them to the achievements and techniques of experts and let them witness them in action.