4. Give your child a chance to showcase what he’s learned. Widening the exposure of your child’s recently discovered passions and acquired skills can be a great way to motivate a child to keep going. Next time your child comes home with an art project, show a friend and ask him to talk about it. Or if he has a game he’s excited about, ask your child how he would feel about inviting relatives.
5. Reinforce relationships with like-minded peers. Your child may already have ample friends. But once he has discovered a hobby, being in the presence of others who share the same interests can be a great way to motivate him. One of the things Holiday Baking Championship Jackson Fujimori found most rewarding from being a contestant on the Food Network was meeting other bakers his age, especially other boys who loved baking. Jackson was able to discuss specific baking-related topics with these new cohorts, topics he would’ve never talked about with his friends back home.
6. Find a mentor. One of the most important lifelines of a long-term pursuit is a mentor. There’s no one specific formula for finding a mentor, but the key to identifying a good mentor is by gauging the natural chemistry your child may have with a mentor figure. The mentor should also be someone who recognizes, appreciates and believes in your child’s potential. Many times, a mentor will come in the form of a teacher or teacher’s assistant. But be open-minded. Mentors can come in all forms.
7. Reward the effort and not the outcome. When parents are able to focus on effort and not the outcome, it teaches their child a key skill to developing perseverance. Your child may not have control over a particular outcome. But he can control how much he practices. This sense of control is empowering for kids and motivates them to go the distance without letting unpredictable factors deter them.
Deborah Song
