Pay attention to your kid’s intellectual wellness if you want them to be smart and successful in the future. It’s not a one-time process. It should be a part of their lifestyle while growing up. 

School is important, but just sending them to school is not enough. 

There are eight bits of intelligence and educational institutes use a teaching method only fit for students with verbal-linguistic intelligence. This system is not suitable to bring out the full potential of children. It means you, as a parent, have to create a productive culture at home that promotes intellectual wellness for your kids. 

Intellectual wellness encourages mentally-stimulating activities that expand knowledge and skills. It will help your kids become curious and explore issues that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

Here is what you need to do.

Set a Growth Mindset

Many believe that intelligence is a fixed trait. Some may have a slightly higher IQ than others, but it isn’t what decides their success. Children can get into an inferiority complex, thinking nature didn’t bless them with what it takes to be successful. 

Such beliefs hold them back. 

Likewise, several other stereotypes play a role in undermining the performance of your children. Help them understand they are what they make of themselves. The right mindset will enhance their ability to learn. If they don’t believe in themselves, they will try to avoid challenges and learn less. 

Encourage Social Skills

Children that develop social skills at a young age start a successful career in their early adulthood. American Journal of Public Health also published an article discussing the relationship between kindergarten social competence and future wellness. 

Technical skills are really hard to sell when you don’t have the right social skills to prove yourself. Teach your kids to see things from a third-person perspective, listen to people without interrupting them, and resolve fights between friends. It has been proven through countless examples that social skills are more important than academics and the key to career success.

Build Critical Thinking 

The process of solving problems with self-control and focus can be described as critical thinking. Children shouldn’t stop their questions at just ‘what’. They should go beyond and ask ‘how’ and ‘why’ in every matter to get to their bottom. It will help develop minds that can easily process new information and solve complex problems. 

Research has shown that kids who code have up to 75% higher logic and abstract thinking. Admitting children to a coding school at a very young age will help balance their convergent and divergent thinking and they will learn logic, structure, and algorithmic thinking. 

Source: WhiteHatJr.com

Let them be Independent

Give them real responsibilities if you want them to be real smart. Overprotective parents end up spoiling their kids. With a sense of responsibility, children will take all their tasks seriously and do their best against challenges. 

You, as a parent, might have difficulty allowing them to solve problems on their own. But they won’t grow until they learn to fight alone. If a task doesn’t involve something dangerous, let your children do it. Do show your support, but don’t do it for them. They will make mistakes and wrong decisions, but it’s all a part of the learning process. 

Regularly Assign Chores

Everyone wants to be feel needed – even kids. Allow them to make contributions to the family. It will make them feel responsible and they will learn to complete goals independently. Assigning minor house chores and asking for their opinion on different matters.

Don’t expect perfection from them. In fact, they will sabotage the entire job; they are kids, after all. However, never make any negative or sarcastic comments about their performance. Encourage them to make mistakes and do better next time. It helps them see how the world actually works. Every time they succeed, it will boost their self-esteem and confidence. 

Exercise Everyday

Every adult wants to work out daily. While we may blame our busy routine, the real reason is just lack of discipline and motivation. Such habits are easier to adopt and likely to sustain a lifetime when started at an early age.

Exercise is a powerful tool for learning, and it should be a part of the everyday routine for children. Choose an appropriate time in the morning or evening for a mild workout. Regularly exercising for three months was found to increase learning by 30%. The same research also concluded that people pick up new vocabulary 20% faster after exercise. In addition to all, your children get to stay healthy and fit. 

Help them Find a Passion

You might have plans to make your kid successful in an already decided field. A field decided by you that is probably your dream. Forcing your dreams on them will only push them back from their success. One can’t be extraordinary in something he doesn’t like. 

Help your kids find a reasonable passion that is fulfilling in every way. They should be able to enjoy their work, be respected, and make decent earnings. It’s their best years, and they shouldn’t waste them studying something they have no interest in. 

Give them Time to Play

Pediatricians say you should let your kids play every day to ensure their health and success in the future. Playing different outdoor games will help them develop sensory skills, abstract thoughts, and social skills. They also become good team players spending time with friends. 

In addition to growing different skills, children use this as relaxation time and recharge for other challenging academic tasks. Only focusing on studying and problem-solving could affect your kid’s health. Give them more than enough time to enjoy and refresh themselves. 

Develop Self-Discipline

Every leader must have self-discipline. It’s not easy to control your sleep, and every minute of your time to get the most out of each day. At school or a job, you know you have to complete your work or there will be consequences. 

You have a teacher or supervisor to ensure you do your job. However, a successful person doesn’t work with fear. If your children want to be successful and lead the way for others, then they must first learn to control themselves.