Talent Time

We all have a talent, it may not seem obvious for children, which is why we must provide encouragement to help them discover what they enjoy.

We should teach children that everyone has a talent for something and it may take time to discover it, but along the way you can learn new skills, try new things and gain an appreciation for many different things.

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My re-imagined classic, When Not I, Becomes I'll Try, shows how a little encouragement goes a long way to help others discover their creativity and talent. As the barnyard friends watch each other express themselves in their own unique ways, they discover that everyone has something special to offer.

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As kids journey to find a talent, we must offer them encouragement and recognize that they are trying in order to help them grow their talent. It is also important to teach them that being good at something takes effort, practice and knowledge. Not only can this hard work help them define their talent, it will build their confidence as they see how better they can get with each try.

The Elephant That Wanted to Dance by Despina Mavridou is a book that shows how offering encouragement can help us move forward with our dreams.

The elephant wants to dance but doesn't know how. So he learns, practices, and keeps trying so he can make his dream come true.

Listen to the story in the Kindness Kangaroo Library

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If a child is ready to quit we should first assess why - give them a chance to make a thoughtful decision about whether to pursue a different path. It might be a bully, a negative experience or something easily corrected. I remember when I was 5 and I took baton twirling lessons. Before I really had a chance to learn much I decided to quit - but not because I didn't want to keep learning it - we marched in parades and I never got to see Santa Claus on his float.

It is also important for everyone to remember that pursuing a talent could have a few false starts as children learn what they like or don't like. When children have a good reason for not wanting to continue, if they are not happy with the current pursuit - don't hold it against them, don't call them quitters and refuse to help them pursue another path. Part of childhood is to learn and grow and it isn't always a straight path.