Let me share a personal experience that relates to this topic.
My last girl child is very good at gymnastics. From a very tender age, she started exhibiting some skills which I was totally against and was always cautioning her to stop. It was too risky and dangerous for my sight. After several warnings, I thought she stopped. I never knew she continued behind me and was practising it by herself, watching videos on YouTube Kids and these aided her passion and interest. She mastered some skills on her own without my knowledge. One day, I was at her Summer Camp to take her home and was greeted with congratulations from many corners, she had won a medal as the best gymnast in a tournament represented by many pupils from different schools, organized by Vodafone UK. I couldn’t understand how, I looked at her, she smiled and winked at me. She was proudly wearing a pair of Vodafone Jersey and her gold medal. Immediately we stepped out to go home, I looked at her again with curiosity and she said jokingly, “Mummy I understand your confusion, I’ll explain” and we both laughed. At that point, the outcome was what mattered to me and the joy was deep.
On our way home, she narrated how she started and how she won the medal. When I asked her the skills she exhibited that made her win, she said she would show me at home but I should first promise her not to scream when she starts. I promised. We got home, she stood on my big bed and started demonstrating. I was dumbfounded. It was so scary that I was shouting blood of Jesus all through. I was tempted to stop her at a point but the thought of the medal she won gave me confidence that she’s safe. That was how the journey began. I enrolled her in a gymnastic class in her school and a sports club. She is doing absolutely great for her age and has remained unbeatable in any gymnastic competition till today.
Giving kids room to explore their creative, artistic and talented minds could be difficult and challenging. Just like my story, the thought of the risks and threats always come before the benefits and opportunities, making possible support to be declined, delayed, or aborted. In my case, I was not aware and couldn’t have given her any support, until it was made public. This also goes to show that talents, creativity and skills in children come with forces beyond them that pulls them naturally to it against all odds. My daughter is a very respectful girl, yet she disregarded my continous warnings and continued with her practice.
My daughter wasn’t born a gymnast. I would be wrong to attribute her skills to genetic. She developed the interest on her own and built on her flexibility, without consent or support from anyone. She had the passion and was confident enough to push it from home to the public without training. That is the mind of every child. They have remarkable creative minds with limitless imaginations and divergent skills. To them, it is an act of play that they enjoy doing.
The Why…
The future is brighter on the lane of creative intelligence, skill enhancement and talent display. Children are stars that twinkle all day long. Parents and teachers are implored to give them the best support to keep their stars illuminating.
Why it is important to give them this supoort is because;
It fosters their mental growth.
It helps them with concentration and focus.
It helps build their independent minds.
It keeps them physically fit.
It helps their emotional, social, physical and intellectual growth.
It boosts their confidence, inspires them for positive relationship with others and helps them gain satisfaction.
Perhaps, It could bring them to limelight, make them prominent and super rich.
The fact is, every child is wired with different and numerous in-built talents, skills and creative minds. Just like in our previous article, some of these natural gifts die off if unused, depending on the age of the child. The used ones become active and if properly nurtured, they blossom to success. This is another reason why it is important to create a supportive environment that will nurture their minds towards reaching their full potential before it becomes late.
The How…
Here are the few ways to mould and support them through this;
- Encourage them. Allow them to explore. Guide them through it. Give them freedom of mind and independence.
- Give listening ears to their questions and answers through which they explore their creative minds. No idea is bad. Leave their mind open always.
- Allow extra play time. Kids explore more during play time. Depending on the child, and the type of skills or talent at play, an extra play time should be allowed and regulated.
- Embrace some of their excesses. A child is a child and will always act in that manner. Don’t be shocked or furious at their excesses. Expect it and don’t be overwhelmed by it. It is part of the process.
- Introduce new methods or experiences if you have. Children are to be guided not to be followed. Let them know better ways of practices if need.
- Invest in their passion. This is very important because it may die off naturally with neglect or poor orientation.
- Be involved in their activities. Make arts with them, play games with them, do sports with them, watch television with them, cook and bake with them, read to them and tell them stories.
- Enroll them in professional classes for the best guide. Depending on the type of skill and talent and the age of the child, a professional guide is advisable. After school programs, sports club, summer club and so on.
- Encourage creativity with their classmates and friends. Children learn better with their fellow children, their peers and play groups. Allow them mingle in play activities.
- Bond with them very well. Without proper bonding with them, it may frustrate every other effort you are making. They must trust you and believe in you.
Creativity, skills and talents in children are demonstrated in different ways and capacities. It is the responsibility of parents, teachers and other adults in their lives to channel these attributes for good and to explore the accompanying benefits.
Amara Ann Unachukwu
