Tomorrow’s leaders
16 simple ways to build leadership skills in kids

Whether they become doctors, teachers or stay-at-home parents, one fact remains.  The youths of today will make decisions that affect all of us in the future.

Here are ways you can help kids become tomorrow’s leaders.

1. Set a good example.  Kids learn from your actions as well as your words.  Be a positive influence in their lives.

2. Respect them.  Kids need to feel their opinions matter.  Take their ideas seriously.  Follow through on your commitments to them.

3. Let them help plan.  Hosting a birthday party?  Going on vacation?  Let kids make decisions that affect their lives.  Find out what they want to do.  Let them help figure out how to do it.

4. Encourage creativity.  Messiness is OK sometimes.  Allow kids to express themselves, share their unique talents and have fun.

5. Show positive results.  Show kids they make a difference in the family, their community and in the lives of others.  Point out the clean bedroom they cleared of toys or the clean park they helped clear of litter.

6. Don’t talk too much.  Let kids lead conversations.  Encourage them to think for themselves and express their opinions.

7. Remind them to listen.  Good leaders listen and learn from others.

8. Help them improve academic skills.  Offer your assistance to kids who need academic help.  If you can’t tutor them yourself, point them to someone who can.

9. Let them do their jobs.  Trust kids to follow through with their roles and responsibilities – even if it would be easier to do it yourself.

10. Allow mistakes.  Famous inventor Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”  Encourage kids to learn from their mistakes and to keep trying.

11. Be a friend.  Just like you, kids face difficult situations and have bad days.  Be a good listener and provide guidance or reassurance if needed.

12. Encourage communication with adults.  Sometimes kids need to talk to an adult (other than their parents) who they can trust.  Encourage your children to talk to a trusted adult – a friend of the family, aunt or teacher.  Be that trusted adult for kids you know.

13. Address fears.  Discuss your child’s fears of the future.  Help him/her understand his/her fears, work through them and set personal goals for the future.

14. Remember every child has the ability to lead.  Every individual has his/her own leadership style.  Good leaders aren’t always the most outspoken, popular or assertive.  Some leaders are very quiet at the beginning.

15. Encourage leadership with positive comments.  A smile and the words “Good job!” can go a long way to help build confidence and self-esteem.

16. Give them the opportunity to volunteer.  Many kids who volunteer grow into adults who volunteer.  Volunteering boosts self-confidence, gi