If you’re a parent, you know how hard it is to see your child give up. You know that your child has the potential to do anything they set their mind to. The problem is, they don’t know that, and it’s all because of two dangerous words: I can’t. So many kids don’t realize that they’re holding themselves back and it’s our responsibility as parents to teach your kid the I CAN Mentality.
“I can’t make the volleyball team!”
“I can’t do math!”
“I can’t do a cartwheel!”
One of the best ways to show kids that they CAN make the volleyball team or do math or do a cartwheel is by teaching them the I CAN Mentality. Best-selling author of the I CAN… children’s book series, Miriam Laundry, and NYT bestseller Jack Canfield, recommend a simple three-step process to set your kids up for success.
First, kids need to actually believe in themselves. They need to believe that they CAN do it. If you see your child start to give up and let go of their goals, encourage them to keep going. Tell them, “you CAN do it!” Kids might not receive it the first time around, but after a while, they’ll start to pick it up.
Second, if your child just isn’t getting it and you aren’t sure how to move forward, get a mentor, a teacher, an older sibling. Ask an expert for help. You might not know exactly how to do a cartwheel, but maybe the babysitter does. Remind your kids that it’s okay to ask for help.
Finally, get them to practice. Practice, practice, practice. Making the perfect serve or learning how to draw a beautiful portrait doesn’t happen overnight. It might not even happen over two nights. But if they keep working at it and keep practicing, they CAN do it.
Some kids might need more encouragement and practice than others, and that’s okay because every kid is worth investing in. Every kid can be successful, as long as they have the support system they need to get through it. Next time you see your child shrug their shoulders and push away their math or volleyball, come alongside them and remind them that they CAN.
THINGS GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: Authors Miriam Laundry and Jack Canfield have made it their mission to show kids they CAN through the release of their children’s book I CAN Believe in Myself, which is all about self-esteem, empowerment, and life improvement for young children. I CAN Believe in Myself is available on Amazon.
