I spent the last few months tracking down parental advice, but not just any advice. I wanted to create a list compiled by some of the most influential leaders, past and present. What did their parents do that highly influenced them? What was their home like? How did they grow up? I know natural abilities play a huge role in how people turn out, but there is no doubt the environment kids grow up in also makes an enormous difference.
So here is what I learned:
I identified seven things in my research; I’ll give three here. Check out www.parents.luke117.com for the whole list.
1) Think entertainment creation over entertainment consumption:
Limiting screen time in the house is good. Even Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple, did this with his kids, but further research revealed that the way many leaders, like Jobs, taught their kids to interact with technology was to push them to create media over consuming it. Don’t just download apps that listen to music and watch movies, download apps that make music, movies, or even apps that paint pictures. Encourage your kids to be creative. The next time you hand your phone or tablet to your kids, instead of Netflix open up Garage Band.
2) Eat dinner around the table with your family and talk about current events:
This is a common trait among many great leaders. From a young age, they learned to discuss politics, current events and even morality with adults. They also learned to look adults in the eye and developed good verbal skills. Here is a new rule, one even Steve Jobs had: No technology in the kitchen!
3) Learn a musical instrument:
The articles supporting the power of creative thinking are too numerous to list. Here is the bottom line: Much of current education really pushes the side of the brain dealing with logic and tasks. This is great, but the more we cut out the creative arts, we literally are mentally under-developing our children. Light up the creative part of the brain! It’s time to start learning an instrument.
All it takes are a few tweaks to your parenting philosophy and you could greatly improve the environment where your kids grow up.