How to raise a leader in a child: tips

Raising a child leader requires a special approach. It is not enough to notice his social activity and organizational skills. It is also necessary to develop them. At the same time, do not go too far, so that leadership does not become synonymous with egocentrism.

We will tell you who a real leader is in a children's team and give you tips on how to develop leadership skills in a child.

Who is a leader?

The word "leader" has a number of strong associations. The head of a company, the head of an organization comes to mind. But in a broader sense, a leader is a person whose opinion is listened to by others. Strong-willed, purposeful, not afraid to take responsibility for actions and decisions.

In children's groups, the leader manifests himself in the same way: he sets the rules of the game and monitors their observance, accepts and excludes participants. The rest of the children obey the leader, subconsciously feeling his informal authority.

Leadership qualities are formed in childhood. Talk to the parents of a status person who has achieved a lot in life. Surely, he or she demonstrated the makings of a leader in the sandbox, and then confirmed his or her status in all the children's groups in which he or she was a member at different times of life.

Distinctive features of a leader

If you want to raise your child to be a leader, you should first understand the characteristics of this type of personality. A true leader is a person who:

• seeks to manage the situation and the people involved;
• is able to convince others, gently persuade them to his/her opinion;
• gives clear and understandable instructions, always knows what to do;
• masterfully communicates with different people, knows how to find an approach to everyone;

• can influence people with the help of emotional images, does not leave anyone indifferent to his/her personality (causes both positive and negative);
• finds non-trivial ways to solve problems, takes responsibility for the result.

Types of leadership in children's groups

There are several types of leaders in children's groups. Namely:

1. Organizers. They distribute roles in games, gather local groups for specific purposes, set tasks and monitor their implementation.
2. Activists. They show personal initiative and are always ready to act. Such children are stars at matinees and first assistants to educators/teachers.
3. Rebels. These are leaders with a "-" sign. They are full of ideas, sometimes completely crazy. Nevertheless, they always find supporters, which further strengthens their desire to go against the established rules.
4. Patrons. These are leaders in small groups of children. As a rule, a patron finds 1-2 friends among those who, for some reason, did not join the company of other children.

Is it possible to become a leader?

There are two opposing opinions on this matter. One is that you have to be born a leader. The other is that leadership qualities can be nurtured. The truth is somewhere in the middle, as both of these statements do not contradict each other.

Yes, certain people are born with leadership skills. A two-year-old who bends other (often even older) children to his will is instantly awarded the title of leader. If you do not suppress these manifestations, then the leadership skills of such a child will only grow stronger over time.

At the same time, a quiet, calm child accustomed to obedience and conformity can become a situational leader. For example, if no one else has expressed a desire to lead the process. Such situations can be an impetus for developing leadership skills.

The child leader and parents

It's nice to realize that your child is a leader. But can two leaders (child + parent) get along in one family? What if there are not two, but three (child + both parents)?

The danger of such a configuration is that there may be competition - who is who. The leadership qualities of the parents will be expressed in the suppression of the child. But he will not be able to obey unconditionally. There will be competition, followed by confrontation, open rebellion, a nervous breakdown, or worse.

Building parental authority will help here. Whatever one may say, it is the parents who are responsible for the minor child. Accordingly, they should have the final say. To prevent the child from perceiving the established rules or prohibitions as an encroachment on his or her boundaries, discuss and justify the decisions made.

Be interested in the child's opinion, and take it into account whenever possible. Give him or her the right to choose and a little freedom to make their own decisions.

What to do when a child insists on doing something

Parents need to be consistent. If you have forbidden something, do not give in to bargaining and manipulation. Be careful to keep an eye on the line that separates the ability to achieve something from unhealthy pressure.

Develop a sense of team spirit in a child leader.

He should understand that a leader is not someone who pulls the blanket over himself or takes advantage of the achievements of others. A true leader achieves his or her goals through the proper organization of teamwork.

Promote the realization of the child's leadership qualities in children's groups – in the classroom, sports team, group of like-minded people.

Learn how to criticize properly – productively, without infringing on the child's dignity. Turn any mistakes into lessons and failures into useful experience.