Raising a strong-willed child can be a handful in itself, causing us to stretch what abilities we have. These types of kids, like all, do not come with a “how-to” manual. If they did, that would be amazing and I would be one of the first to purchase the miracle, life-saving book. However, we sometimes just have to wing it. My husband and I have collectively learned a few things from having a bold child while raising her to be a leader.
She loves to lead.
We all know that children need healthy, consistent boundaries for what is and is not acceptable. However, think about it this way… when is the last time you let your child “lead the way” when you’re out for a stroll? Or when was the last time you asked, within reason, what they would like do next? Fostering opportunities for your little to lead will help develop critical thinking and independence. If we plan every single moment of our child’s life, when will they grow and how will they develop leadership skills if they aren’t able to lead?
She loves to help.
If I ask her to do a task, she does it right away, with glee! If I’m making pancakes, she pulls out her apron and asks to help. And I let her. Why? This is another opportunity for her to learn something new. This is giving her an open door to show her things that she can do {even though she’s still small}. Kids are wired with the innate need to help out when they’re little. They feel as though they can contribute from a young age; and why not feed into that! Yes, letting them help means there are times when things won’t get done your way. That’s when you laugh and learn with your child. After all, laughter is the best medicine.
She loves to teach.
On any given day, I find my daughter trying to “read” a book to our son when they’re playing together or trying to show him a new skill. She loves to tell us about everything she does during the day. She can’t get enough of trying to teach us new things or mimicking something we’ve already shown her. Allowing your child to teach you {or others} new things allows their creative juices to flow. It also brings out their social side and opens the opportunity for growth.
She is compassionate.
Ever since she was a baby, my daughter has had such a tender heart. There have been times when I would be crying after an argument and my daughter would come and wipe my tears away saying in her sweet little girl voice, “Mama, it be ok.” Sure, this might be learned from us, but we should be teaching our kids compassion! Lord knows we need it in this day and age. One of the amazing qualities of a great leader, in my opinion, is the amount of compassion they show toward others.
Remember, you’ll have good days and off days. But, how you choose to see your strong-willed child is what makes the difference. Choose joy, love, and compassion toward them; you never know what they’ll turn out to be!
