Help Your Child Become a Leader

All children should receive some form of leadershipin particular are ideal settings to help children
training, because at a future point they will all bedevelop and practice teamwork and leadership.
leaders--whether it's in their families, jobs,These range from adventurous day camps at
communities, or other organizations to which theyspace education centers to intense mock trial or
will belong. You can encourage your own child'sdebate competitions. Studying about famous
development as a leader by consistently providingworld leaders and shadowing influential people in
him or her with opportunities to learn and applythe community are other good ways for kids to
leadership skills.learn about leadership.
Boy scouts, girl scouts, church organizations, 4-HOf course, you as a parent are in a prime position
clubs, community sports, and other youth groupto teach your child about leadership through your
settings may be a good place for your child toown example and through discussions about
begin learning leadership skills, especially if theplanning and goal-setting, communication,
organization places an emphasis on building leaders.problem-solving, and decision-making. As important
If your child is a little older, you might want toas it is to provide opportunities for your children
encourage him or her to take advantage ofto be involved in the afore mentioned
opportunities facilitated through the local school.organizations, your playing an active role in their
Most schools have a variety of clubs and eventslife (perhaps by attending the events in which
in which students can participate and lead theirthey are involved) is even more crucial to helping
peers.them gain the confidence necessary to be good
For more direct training, you can enroll your childleaders.
in classes or seminars about leadership. Simulations