4 Keys to Raising a More Adventurous Child
by Peg Rosen
Summer is prime time for broadening kids’ horizons and encouraging them to try new things. “But whether your child sees this as a great thing or a terrible infliction depends upon what kind of kid you have,” says Wes Crenshaw, Ph.D., author of Dear Dr. Wes: Real Life Advice for Parents of Teens. Kids who are naturally cautious need a gentler approach than kids who are adventurous. These tips will help prepare them for a summer of discovery:
Adventurous Child Key No. 1: Start small. Throwing cautious kids into a new environment or a challenging situation without practice is bound to backfire. The key to success is to gradually ease them in. Think of what you can do this summer that will build up your kids for bigger challenges next year. For example, give them a taste of what sleepaway camp might be like with weekend overnights sponsored by your church, school or local Y Camp. Many traditional camps also offer introductory one-week programs for new campers.
Adventurous Child Key No. 2: Cultivate independence. “Kids will not develop the confidence or skills they need to venture on their own if they know you are always around to navigate for them,” says Crenshaw. That doesn’t mean you should drop your 10-year-old off at the Smithsonian for the day if you travel to D.C. this summer. “But it’s certainly reasonable to encourage her to explore a gallery on another floor that she’s curious about and arrange to meet her at a given time,” says Crenshaw. Going over general rules (know who to ask for help, don’t wander elsewhere in the museum), showing her how to read the museum floor plan and letting her take the elevator by herself will all give her confidence to try things on her own.
Adventurous Child Key No. 3: Let her lead. You may dream that your daughter will share your love for camping or musical theater. But before you sign her up for a summer program that floats your boat, sit down and listen to what she thinks might float hers. Have her write a list of 10 things she wants to do, and offer to help her achieve some of them. This gives her something to aim for. “Stick the bucket list to your wall or on your refrigerator, and make a big deal out of crossing them off for incentive,” says Yael Levey, cofounder of the motivational website dreamBIGLY.com.
Adventurous Child Key No. 4: Be selective. Some new activities, such as swim lessons, may not be negotiable. “These are life skills that everyone should have in order to be safe, and summer is an excellent, relatively relaxed time to introduce them,” says Crenshaw. But many activities are not worth pushing, particularly if kids are very resistant. “Kids have enough pressure during the school year. And you don’t want to replicate that during the summer, if at all possible.”
Photo: @iStockphoto.com/carrollphoto
Peg Rosen has contributed to numerous magazines and websites, including Healthy Kids, MORE, Redbook, SELF, Real Simple, Parents, Family Circle, American Baby, ParentCenter.com and WebMD.com. She blogs at Relish-This.Blogspot.com.
