Raising a child in this day and age can be a scary thing. Not only do you want to ensure that you keep your children safe from harm, but you want to give them the best start possible to help them compete in our ever globalizing world. Not only do young people face competition from students sitting next to them in class, but from students across the globe as well. More than just succeeding as compared to other young people, you want your children to be able to make a mark in the world and change it for the better. So, how do you raise a child who not only succeeds but makes the world a better place? Here are a few suggestions to give your child a leg up.
Give Your Child a Quality Education
The most all-encompassing way to ensure that your child is off to a bright start is to enroll him or her in a quality education program. This doesn’t have to begin with preschool though it certainly can. Begin looking at schools for your child, which incorporate innovative learning strategies, small classrooms, and a lot of individualized attention. While some school districts offer magnet and Waldorf schools, which may be a good fit, in others you may want to consider private education. By choosing to send your child to a private school, you have more control over the environment your child learns in. Schools such as the Archer School for Girls in Brentwood, California, are known for offering high-quality education with a focus on leadership, research, and technology for young women. These sorts of educational institutions certainly provide your children with numerous resources to succeed.
Enroll Your Child in Music Classes
It is important to help your child develop his or her brain early. There is no better and more fun way to do this than through music. Whether you have a toddler or a pre-teen, music is the best way to help your child develop critical mathematical and artistic skills. For younger children, you can find group music classes while parents with older children may want to consider enrolling their youngsters in piano or voice lessons. Many schools also offer band, orchestra, and choir classes and clubs. Encourage your child to get involved in these. You may not have a Mozart on your hands, but music is a fun and engaging way to develop critical cognitive skills.
Teach Your Child a Foreign Language
While your child is still young, begin putting a focus on learning a second language. These days, knowing only one language is an extreme impediment to professional success. Not to mention that by knowing another language, your child will have a better understanding of the world and more opportunity to travel abroad. Young brains are like sponges and can learn languages much easier than when they are older. That is why it is important to expose your child to other languages early. Even if you yourself are not bilingual, by giving this advantage to your child, you are literally unlocking the rest of the world to him or her. You can begin this process by purchasing videos or CDs, which help teach young children. You can also look into local classes or tutors.
Raise a Child Who Reads
Finally, one of the best and easiest things that you can do to ensure that your child is successful and ready to tackle the world is to encourage reading above all else. Children who are read to every night are far more likely to continue the habit into adulthood. Not only will reading with your child help them to develop critical literacy skills, but it will hone their sense of curiosity and creativity. Make sure to take regular trips to the library and carve out times meant specifically for reading. This is a surefire way to ensure that your child not only succeeds but has the skills that he or she needs to change the world.
