Strength-Based Parenting

As a parent, it’s possible to guide your children into being happier and doing better both in school and in life. You can do this by ensuring they stay busy with activities that correspond to their natural strengths. Parents can also help children by reminding them to pay attention to their strengths and noticing what they naturally enjoy. On top of everything else, being mindful and using strength-based praise will also help to create a positive and supportive communication system between you and your child.

What you can do:

Share strength stories with your kids.

Rather than repeatedly reminding your children of the time they were too afraid to dive into the swimming pool, make a point of telling stories that illustrate their strengths. For example, a time that they spontaneously made a present for a relative or friend. Make sure to point out what specific strengths they were demonstrating when they did this, whether that be kindness, forethought or organization. Alternatively, choose a particular strength and get your children to tell you when they felt they used this strength most clearly in their lives.