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ig ideas can ignite a child’s imagination—but without skills, they stay locked inside. The world doesn’t just reward dreams—it depends on people who can turn them into action. A child’s potential becomes real only through practice, refinement, and follow-through. In the cafés of Paris, writers like André Gide didn’t rely on inspiration alone—they revised, rethought, and shaped their ideas through work and will. Ask your child, “What skill can you grow?” That question redirects them from passive wishing to deliberate effort. It teaches them that ability is earned—and that it’s their tools, not just their ideas, that will shape the world.

One cloudy afternoon, my son found a broken toy car on a shelf. He stared at it, unsure where to begin. I knelt beside him and asked, “What could you learn to make it work?” He thought a moment, then said, “Maybe model building.” That was enough. We watched a short how-to video, gathered supplies, and he got to work. When the wheels turned again, his face lit up—not just from fixing it, but from knowing he had done it. That experience sparked a streak of hands-on learning. Now, whether it’s a model for school or a home repair, he takes pride in his growing skillset. He’s learning that competence isn’t given. It’s earned—step by step.

Support this mindset by helping them notice where they can grow. After a challenge, game, or task, ask what they’d like to improve—whether it’s drawing, organizing, coding, or fixing. For younger children, keep it tactile and playful. For older ones, help them plan and track progress. Praise not just what they know, but how they build that knowledge. Over time, they’ll come to see that their effort has weight—and that their power lies in the skills they choose to master.

TIPS

• Spark growth with curiosity, not pressure
• Focus on progress, not perfection
• Emphasize how skills build real-world value

ACTIVITIES

• Skill Try: After a task, ask “What skill can you grow?”—then try it together
• Fix Quest: Choose something small to repair and reflect on the process
• Mini Mastery: Let them teach someone else a skill they’ve begun to build