
Many parents feel overwhelmed at the thought of coaching their kids on social skills. Caroline Maguire believes that parents make the best coaches because of their daily interactions with their children.
Why Parents Make Great Coaches:
Kitchen Counter Moments:
Parents have countless opportunities to reinforce skills in everyday situations, unlike professionals who see the child less frequently.
A coaching client recently told me she felt both out of her depth and, quite frankly, not patient enough. She gave two reasons for resisting the idea of coaching: feeling overwhelmed and not feeling capable.
Overcoming the Overwhelm:
Explicit Teaching:
Parents can be taught to coach effectively with the right exercises, language, and understanding of the goals.
Curiosity Over Judgment:
Swap anger and judgment for curiosity. Seek to understand your child better and collaborate with them.
A Reminder:
I always say that Wonderfully Wired kids need connection to learn, and nobody offers them that like a parent. They also need autonomy. If we could change our approach from judgment to curiosity and collaboration, we can help them feel more in control. Finally, they need competence. We can explicitly teach skills by using the language and exercises Caroline offers.
Action Step:
If you're getting closer to considering becoming a coach, listen to the practical examples in the second half of my conversation on this month's podcast with Caroline Maguire to get an idea of the actual exercises she designs.You'll realize perhaps coaching is a little easier and a bit more fun than you thought it would be.
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