Add Zing To Your Child's Flair

Right from the time a child is born, activities of its eyes, ears, lips, hands and legs are very carefully watched by the parents and other close relatives. Each activity of the newly born child is interpreted by different relatives in their own manner as per their age, experience and status (or understanding) in life. These interpretations continue to increase as the child grows. Up to the age of nearly three years, the parents and close relatives continue doing this exercise to see how these facilities are developing in the infant.

After the age of three, the child starts going to a playschool and starts studying gradually. His teachers monitor his progress at school and the parents continue monitoring the traits of the child at home.

Progress reports sent periodically by school authorities to the parents and parent-teacher meetings start indicating the talent of the child - i.e. in which line, sphere or activity the child has the bent of mind. Logically, some basic ideas start percolating in the minds of the elders with regard to the expected talent the child has. At times, these talents get developed in life even at the age of 10 or 15 years.

In short, everyone has to accept silently that everyone has a talent in life and it starts sprouting right from the early childhood or later childhood years.

The most difficult task is to interpret the talent of the child. The talent correctly interpreted can lead to a hobby or even career of the child in later years when the grown-up child is planning his vocation.

The main point, which requires emphasis is that everyone has a talent right from birth. We may come to know it in early childhood or late childhood. What is required is to search for and locate this talent.

The following tips may help the search:

- Recall the traits of early childhood. Recall how the child was responsive to various senses when the chance was given.

- Recall the likes and dislikes of the child during later years. For example a child never interested in toys but in making drawing and sketches, when given a chance by the parents, may became an artist. This is how the talent can help a child. Even a career can be coined out of the talent.

- At school, a child may be good in mathematics or science or sports or discussions (debates) and so on. All these early signs in a child help understand his nature and inclination. Help of teachers is also substantial when it comes to the child's behaviour in a group of classmates of nearly the same age.

- The choice of the child in selecting a particular type of toy (time and again) also indicates his tendencies, which could be interpreted suitably.

- This is the computer age. At least 10 per cent of the children (in the age group of three to six years) who have computers at home know how to use it or how to play the computer games and so on. This is also a pointer that probably the child may develop an inclination for indoor games rather than outdoor games.

- Talent inherited is easily visible as in sons and daughters of film stars and sports persons. These inherited talents get visible very easily and quickly with age and time.

- After the talent is ascertained, the requirement is to sharpen it. Since everyone has a talent and the role of the parents and teachers comes forth to encourage the child so that his particular talent gets sharpened. Sharpening talent necessarily , may be difficult task at home but, once the help of outsiders and teachers is taken the talent gets sharpened silently and gradually.

A few points which are likely to sharpen the talents of the child, are given below:

- The parents must encourage their child to develop the talent. The child's hobbies do cost in terms of time and money and parents may have to reschedule their financial priorities with the clear aim to permit their child to develop the hobby.

- The teachers must help the child in debates, organising children's painting competitions, etc., where the children get a chance to show their own compositions, ideas, sketches, paintings, etc. i.e. their talents.

- Even the relatives (specially the close ones) must encourage the child by giving presents that are in line with the child's interests. The relatives could bring sketch books and pencil sets for making sketches if that is the child's hobby, for instance on children's birthdays, give a chance to children to speak on some subject of their choice. This will encourage the child to speak in public more confidently. Even small poems or jokes can encourage the child. Every child must be given a "present" (as a small token of appreciation of his talent, vocabulary and confidence in speaking among children and adults).

- The child must be encouraged time wise and money wise by parents primarily to develop his talent. If the child is interested in cricket, the parents must encourage him to join some local cricket club. In case the child is interested in swimming, encourage the child to join swimming classes and so on. The parents should give priority to the talent of the child in terms of its development, under guidance and in a scientific manner.

- Encourage the child to face competition. The present-day world is a world of competition. No one can excel unless he sits along with his age-mates and gets high scores in his life. He must find a way to get the best marks and stand on merit in the competition. The child must be permitted to join hobby classes. The training in any type of hobby is essential. A trained or well-guided child can positively perform better as compared to untrained children who lack the fundamentals of the basics of its hobby.

- Encourage the child to join group gatherings and outings for short durations of three to six days. This will inculcate more confidence in the child which otherwise he will not get while sitting in the four walls of his house. Such short outings under the supervision of some seniors are essential for the proper development of the child's confidence in itself.

- Let the child understand that no one expects wonders or trophies to start with. But dedicated effort, a sincere approach and good preparation is all what is required. The trophies will start skating towards the sincere ones automatically.

- Everyone cannot be a leader. Some have to be the followers also. Accordingly, the place is to be created for each individual excelling in a group. Even in the acting stream, everyone cannot be a actor - i.e. one must get satisfied ultimately at whatever space he gets settled into while in a group.

- Let everyone understand that against 20 bogies of a train, the engine is only one. It means that among 16 or 20 odd players, the captain is only one. No one can be a captain of his team to start with. First one has to cultivate the qualities of a captain - i.e. first deserve then desire.

Finally, let all of us understand that talent has to be developed gradually by a sincere, dedicated and guiding approach to a child's talent, hobby or sport.

Everyone accordingly must sincerely try to look for his hidden talent (if he does not know it till now) and try to sharpen it by setting his own priorities in life. As an individual you must set apart one or two hours a day or week (depending on your age, status and work schedule) for sharpening your talent. The time, finally will depend upon your own priorities set by you for yourself. The talented man has to gradually shine so long as his efforts are dedicated and sincere.

Carolyn Joana is a parenting expert who offers great, tested, down to earth and reassuring tips on home-made baby food, baby health, home-remedies for babies, baby massage, baby care, breastfeeding and much more at her website http://www.guide-to-baby-needs.com