I’ve always been fascinated by families whose children seem to be on some kind of unusual streak, reaching the top of their career ladders, or, even more interesting to me, blazing trails or following their passions with spectacular results.
What did their parents do differently to empower them? What do researchers really know about what’s effective in giving kids the support they need to succeed? Given that siblings are often so different, what seemed to be helpful across the board?
For my book, “The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mysteries of Sibling Success,” I interviewed dozens of parents of high-achieving children and interviewed well over 100 experts. As a mom of twin boys who are now teenagers, here’s what I found to be the most convincing.
You can provide all the enrichment in the world and encourage your child to excel in school, but if they don’t internalize a sense of possibility, their academic strengths might only take them so far.
I was amazed by the consistency of the outlook of the parents I interviewed, who encouraged their kids to think big, feel hope and stay positive.
