Your Child Is Your Business! Be the Real CPO In Their Lives

Living a life built around developing leaders and educating youth, I've been exposed to a variety of situations at all economic levels from affluent families down to kids in group homes. All kids are the most precious gifts given to us, but they are not always nurtured and properly prepared for the next level. So, I'm challenging every parent to become the Chief Parental Officer (CPO) in their child's lives.

Why is this important? Well, they are our future! If they are not properly developed, and equipped, they will not know how to lead at the next level. That means, we can't let technology, TV, Social Media and schools be the primary educators in their lives. Letting these ever evolving devices to instill a false reality in children's lives and limits their development of basic life skills; we ultimately, set them up for failure. When you couple this common scenario with the overreaching actions of helicopter and snowplow/lawnmower parenting, another perspective of the college admissions bribery scandal, it really cripples the next generation.

The alternative approach is to expose your kids to as many opportunities possible to help them discover interest and capabilities. Take inventory of their reactions and build from that. Concurrently, work with their school to ensure they are presented with the best learning environment. This may require you advocating and fighting for your child's future. If the school is not responsive to your needs, take ownership of your child's future and don't be afraid to pursue an alternative route like homeschooling.

There's been too many cases involving kids being left behind and/or stuck in an unlearned environment, along with being cheated out of gifted programs because of their race and/or lack of support in their educational environment. Unless the parent is engaged and willing to fight, the zest for learning is not nurtured and it often leads to disengagement and poor performance of the child. Save your child today and recognize how the learning process will vary. Education is not a one-size fit all situation. You saw this illustrated in the story of 16 year-old Haley Taylor Schlitz (Texas Lawyer). Haley was homeschooled after her parents withdrew her from public school in the fifth grade because they didn't like the way she was being taught, she told Good Morning America this morning.

Parents, your child is your business! So, do what is necessary to help them be ready today, tomorrow and beyond. Here are some suggestions on how to do this:

• Schedule regular meetings throughout the school year with your child's Teachers, School Counselors and Administrators to set and discuss yearly goals for your child, monitor their progression and results, then make adjustments accordingly.
• Create scenarios that challenge your child's thought process to help cultivate their critical thinking and problem-solving skills outside the classroom.
• Have ongoing conversations with your child (daily, weekly, bi-weekly) about school, their feelings, what's happening in the world/media, etc. to teach them how to communicate thoughts verbally. This is also an opportunity to identify needs, gaps or opportunities to intervene or provide training.
• Engage your child in extra-curricular activities that will stimulate them mentally and possibly physically so they learn the art of teamwork, giving back, leadership and serving.
• Identify resources to tap into and/or activities to engage in that's productive over the summer, spring and winter breaks that keeps the learning wheel turning, but with fun attached to it. This will help you teach balance while learning.
• Involve them in a money/financial situation to teach them basic money management, investment and smart spending skills.
• Create situations of failure or coach them through "failure" situations to show them how to bounce back and be resilient. Don't let them give up, ignore it, or not discuss. Help them to rise above it and identify the lesson to learn from.

There is no perfect approach, but these are some strategies to explore and measure. Parental involvement and advocacy is more crucial now than its ever been before. Let's commit to preparing our youth of today to be transformational leaders of tomorrow. You can do that Parents, as the CPO.

Tameka Williamson

Chief Engineer of Developing Progressive Leaders

College for Free Coach

tamekawilliamson.com

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