“Give me a fish and I eat for a day. Teach me how to fish and I eat for a lifetime.”

Have you ever read the Aesop’s fable, “The Peasant and the Apple Tree”? The moral is that true value is sometimes hidden. Sometimes your children’s interests, their talents or their abilities are absolutely hidden … and you need to reveal them. All of us are a genius in one way or another.

OK, let’s look at 4 ways that will help you uncover those ‘hidden’ talents of your children…

1.Discover How Your Kids Learn Best

We all learn in different ways. No one way is better than the others. The three dominant learning styles we possess are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Most often one style dominates.

Howard Gardner identified 8 different intelligences or geniuses. When kids discover HOW they are intelligent, they learn to manage their own learning and value their individual strengths. They gain more control over their lives.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Research “Learning Styles” and “Multiple Intelligences” inventories.
• Complete them to discover both yours and your child’s learning style. Find out the strategies that support that style.

2. Use Color

Research shows that color is processed in that part of our brain that also stores long-term memory. When you use color to study, to take and make effective notes, your child increases their memory.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Buy some colored felts. Get your kids using them when they are taking notes and making notes.
• Highlight key words in information.

3. Drink Plenty of Water – 6-8 glasses a day.

About 60% of our body is made up of water and approx. 70% of your brain. Water lessens headaches and stress, and increases concentration, focus and tiredness.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Drink 6-8 glasses a day.
• Keep a container of water beside you when you are studying, especially when you are doing exams. Actually, have a drink now before you continue reading this valuable article.

4. Eat Brain Foods Throughout the Day.

Research tells us that our blood sugar cycles about every hour for teens, 45 minutes for kids, 90 minutes for adults. So, what does this mean? When your blood sugar is low, learning is difficult. Our brains require a steady flow of oxygenated blood and a steady supply of blood sugar. Proper nutrition protects the brain against toxins, improves mental alertness and assists memory.

Here’s what I invite you to do now:

• Eat brain foods every hour and include water rich foods such as lettuce and broccoli.
• Have small meals often.

When our kids know their preferred learning style and their dominant ‘intelligences’, they become more active and involved learners. Then, they are able to demonstrate and share their strengths, increase their self-esteem, become less afraid to make mistakes and increase their capacity to solve problems in life.

Remember: “Work SMARTER, not harder!”

Alright, it’s Let’s Talk time..