10 ways to encourage your child to dream big
My daughter recently told me she wants to be a ninja-princess zookeeper. Imaginative play in our house typically involves taking care of sick animals, in a castle and having the skills and powers of a ninja “to fight off the bad guys” who hurt the animals.
The wonderful thing about being six, is you believe that anything is possible and you are only limited by the power of what you can imagine.
I want to encourage this. I want my daughter to dream big, believe in herself and that anything is possible.
At the same time, I want her to develop the confidence and self-worth to believe in herself to aim for a big goal and work at it to make it happen.
As with so much in life, our goals may change, and there will be challenges, mistakes and failures along the way. And learning that that is OK is also an important part of the process as long as you are doing your best.
Below are 10 ways you can support and encourage your child to dream big.
1. Take time for creative play
Being creative allows kids (and adults!) to explore their dreams and provides a way to express themselves. This may involve role-play, imaginative play with LegoTM, or painting, playing an instrument or creating a small business.
2. Read
Reading books can encourage your children to use their imagination and dream big. One of our favorites is Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.
For more suggestions follow this link – Books that inspire imagination
3. Inspire them
Kids are naturally curious. Encourage this through exploration, research and investigation.
Help your children to discover the world around them through some experiential learning for inspiration. Visit museums, go exploring in a forest or the city, cook together.
For more ideas, follow this link (DPREP article).
4. Talk
Whether you are at home eating dinner together, out at a museum, or cooking together, take the opportunity to ask open-ended questions.
Try these questions :
“what do you think would happen if…?”
“when I say [topic / word] what does that make you think about?”
5. Teach them to set goals
Dream with a purpose! Support your child through setting goals and work out a plan for achieving them. Remember to celebrate successes as you achieve milestones.
6. Share your dreams
Share your dreams with your children. Talk about your goals and what you are working towards.
Children will love to know what your dreams were at their age. This also shows them that goals change and that is OK.
7. Set them up for success
Success is motivating, especially for kids. So, if they are inspired by Panipak Wongpattanakit who won gold for Thailand in Taekwondo, or by Momiji Nishiya the 13-year old gold medalist in the women’s skateboarding at the 2020 Olympics, help with setting little goal towards these bigger goals, to help them experience success.
8. Manage failure
Making mistakes, and failing are important and necessary parts of the journey towards striving for your goals and dreams. Support your child with managing failure, and how to bounce back and keep going.
9. Process, not outcome
One of the best ways to manage failure and also to set kids up for success is to focus on the process as much as the outcome. The effort is valuable!
Encourage your child by focusing on the effort they put into achieving their dreams and also encouraging them to talk about what they did well and what they can do to improve next time.
10. Keep an open mind
Whatever dreams your child has, be enthusiastic, and open-minded. You never know what they will achieve.
It is easy to be pessimistic and give your child a list of ways how their dreams or ideas will not or cannot come true.
Keep an open mind. Challenge yourself to be innovative and creative in finding ways to help your child make their dreams happen.
So whether your child wants to be an astronaut, doctor, or a ninja-princess zookeeper, encourage them to dream big.
