Wellbeing and learning go hand in hand and children flourish when they feel safe, supported and challenged in positive ways. Even if children do not hold formal leadership roles, there are many different ways they can develop leadership skills.
Leadership is about service, responsibility and contributing to something larger than ourselves. As Nathan Chisholm, Head of Wellbeing explains, “Leadership is not just about a title or a badge. It is reflected in the kindness children show towards others.”
Practical tips for families to encourage confident leaders:
- Encourage children to share their ideas, represent their friends, or simply try new things.
- If children want to nominate for a leadership position, remind them that this takes courage and self-belief. Help them to see the value of their potential contribution and support them to have a ‘give it a go’ attitude.
- Discuss different occasions when leadership might be needed. This can be around including others, making difficult choices, or doing the right thing, even when it is difficult.
- Highlight the importance of service, including helping others, volunteering, or taking on responsibilities at home.
- Discuss examples of leadership, including what makes a good or bad leader, when reading or watching programs together.
Developing leadership capability within every child is best supported by a nurturing environment. “It’s about embedding support for children within high expectations,” says Nathan.
For parents, he says that they can best help children to become better leaders by helping them to understand that good leadership is often best shown when rising to the occasion and responding to challenges or problems.
“Clear expectations provide a sense of safety, consistent responses build trust and strong relationships foster belonging. When these conditions are present, young people are better equipped to engage in learning, navigate challenges and develop resilience,” says Nathan.
Every child has the potential for leadership, whether at home, school, or in the community. By encouraging children to model courage and compassion, as well as providing support and high expectations, we nurture our leaders of tomorrow.
