Celebrate Average: The Secret to Raising Happy Kids
Let's talk about the "A" word: Average. No, it’s not a bad word! In fact, embracing the value of average can feel pretty refreshing in our achievement-obsessed world.
We’ve all seen the pressure mounting in our kids' lives. Social media and societal expectations whisper (and sometimes shout!) that if they’re not exceptional, they’re falling behind. It’s enough to make anyone anxious, let alone a young person still figuring out who they are.
But here’s the exciting news: being average isn’t just okay—it’s awesome! Being average gives our kids the flexibility to try different activities, explore new interests, and even change their minds. Kids who aren’t hyper-focused on perfection often develop broader skills and greater adaptability—essential ingredients in our rapidly changing world.
Think of it this way: life isn’t just a solo race to the top. It’s a team adventure filled with discoveries, challenges, and surprises. By encouraging our kids to embrace being average, we help them see success as personal growth and joy, rather than comparison and anxiety.
Ready to give your kids the gift of embracing average? Here’s how:
Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results: Highlight the joy in the process—ask about what they enjoyed, not just what they achieved.
Encourage Variety: Suggest diverse activities, from sports and arts to volunteering and cooking. Let them find joy in exploration.
Normalize Mistakes: Share your own everyday missteps (yes, parents make mistakes too!) and laugh about them together.
Connect with Your Kids Using the 8 Great Smarts:
Word Smart: Share stories of average people who made meaningful contributions—celebrate their journeys!
Logic Smart: Discuss the statistics—most successful people aren’t geniuses; they're persistent and adaptable.
Picture Smart: Create vision boards that emphasize exploration and happiness over perfection.
Music Smart: Write a fun song together about the beauty of trying, exploring, and sometimes being just "good enough."
Body Smart: Play games where enjoying the experience is more important than winning.
Nature Smart: Spend time outdoors, noticing how nature thrives in diversity, not perfection.
People Smart: Encourage conversations about friendships and relationships based on kindness and empathy, not status.
Self Smart: Reflect together on personal strengths and celebrate the comfort of being uniquely average.
By embracing average, you’re teaching your kids that their worth isn’t defined by awards or comparisons. And honestly, what could be more extraordinary than that?