Nurturing Your Child to Greatness

With the right dose of support, listening, genuine praise and investing in the right activities, your child can achieve anything they put their mind to.

- Motlatsi Radebe

There’s no time like the present to help nurture your child’s natural talents.

“I want to be a driver when I grow up.” These were the words often uttered by the late motor racing champion Gugu Zulu when he was about six or seven years old.

Of course, in the early 1980's, this obsession with driving made no sense to Gugu’s parents. They assumed that their son wanted to become a taxi driver. But, instead of dismissing his hobby, they supported and encouraged him in this – even though it meant making peace with the regular accidents that came with it.

With demanding work and home schedules, can you remember the last time you casually observed your child at play or had a conversation with them to get a sense of what they’re good at? Johannesburg based educational psychologist Bene Katabua believes that helping your child discover their talent is one of the best gifts you can offer them. “Not only does it help them build a healthy self-esteem, but it gives them a sense of purpose as well,” says Bene. And, in the cases of children who don’t excel academically, having a hobby that they’re good at might just be the extra boost they need to stay motivated.

Now, identifying your child’s talent may sound like an easy task; but it isn’t. For instance, in wanting to uncover your child’s talent, how do you know for sure that you’re not imposing your own wishes of becoming a world class soccer star on them?