How to raise a brilliant child
SMART PARENTING
WE’D ALL LIKE to think that our kids are exceptional. Is their adorable drawing a sign that they’re a future Picasso? Will they follow in the footsteps of Elon Musk because they can already count to 100?
Less than two percent of the world’s population falls in “borderline genius or above” so sadly, chances of your Elliot growing into an Einstein are slim. But inherited intelligence isn’t the only factor behind a super smart kid. And, yes, you actually can nurture little Elliot’s intelligence and get his neurons fired up!
SOFT SKILLS
Typical intelligence – how your child would rate if given an IQ test – isn’t the only form of aptitude that could impact on their success. Developing emotional intelligence, the ability to build positive relationships and self-manage emotions, and social intelligence, being able to read social situations, can also set your child up for life.
“It’s estimated that, at best, IQ (your intelligence quotient) makes up only 20 percent of the factors that determine life success, while other forces, such as EQ (the so-called ‘emotional quotient’), wealth, temperament, family education levels and pure luck make up the balance,” explains Jackie Petzer, a manager at Eqexplore, a company that developed emotional intelligence in children.
“That means cognitive skills – verbal comprehension, memory, reasoning and processing speed – will help academically, but they will only get a person so far in life,” says Petzer.