How to raise ambitious children with big dreams

Tiny hands but big dreams

Encouraging ambition in children is important for their personal and professional development in this world that is brimming with infinite possibilities. Ambitious children are not only more likely to excel academically, but also they are more likely to contribute positively to society through their innovation and progress. The question that often torments the caregivers, however, is how to foster ambition in their young ones and unleash their fullest potential.

The art of nurturing ambition in children

When children are empowered to explore their interests and aspirations, rather than being pushed to conform to parental desires and expectations, the stage is set for ambition to thrive in their tiny hands holding big dreams.Their individuality has to be recognised as well as respected, for they are a universe in themselves waiting to conquer the world.

Encourage their curiosity

Ajay Gupta, student counsellor, founder, Bachpan Play Schools says, “To foster ambition in young ones, it is important to foster curiosity and creativity through hands-on experiences. Also, it is important to drive their thirst for knowledge in a rich learning environment through multifaceted opportunities to learn and grow. This would help develop a foundation for their ambition and motivate them to set meaningful goals and pursue them.”

Help them embrace failure

Setbacks are inevitable in the pursuit of goals, for success often comes after multiple setbacks. Therefore, the spirit of ambition calls for seeing them as stepping stones to success, in place of seeing them as a dead end. When children learn to embrace failure with resilience, it is only then that they get one step closer to making their dreams come true and achieving their goals.

Supportive parents raise high thinking children

Vipin Jain, Principal, Teerthanker Mahaveer Institute of Management & Technology, TMU University, Moradabad says, “To nurture ambitious children with big dreams, it’s vital to provide unwavering support. Commend their minor accomplishments and guide them in establishing loftier objectives. Mentor them on essential attributes such as the value of tenacity and the ability to bounce back from adversity, facilitating personal growth and encouraging connections with like-minded individuals.”

Provide a support system

When parents, teachers, and other role models provide children with a proper support system and help them chart their course to success through their experiences and wisdom, it plays a crucial role in fostering ambition in children. Also, constructive feedback should be provided to them from time to time, and their successes should be celebrated, no matter how small.

Motivate them to set realistic goals

Children should be offered guidance in setting realistic goals for themselves and breaking them down into manageable steps. When a sense of purpose is instilled into them, it fosters their ambitious spirit and encourages them to introspect as well as adapt to achieve their goals. Providing them with positive role models and sharing stories of successful individuals who started out small greatly help in doing so.

Give them exposure

Field trips to museums, business organisations, and cultural events help broaden the horizons of children and give them exposure to diverse experiences. They should also be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, clubs, and competitions that align with their interests and passions, and resources like books and online courses should be offered to them.

Lead by example

When parents, teachers, and other role models lead by example, it ignites ambition in children as well, seeing their perseverance and dedication in the pursuit of their goals. The value of continuous learning and personal growth should also be emphasised on a regular basis through skill development and meaningful hobbies. This would showcase to them the happiness that comes from prioritising tasks and doing what is loved. Also, the screen time should be limited.