Practice and positive reinforcement are the key to success for children, says renowned mental coach and author, Tim Goodenough.
Practice and positive reinforcement are the key to success for children, says renowned mental coach and author, Tim Goodenough.
Parents and coaches from all over Grahamstown and beyond flocked to hear him speak at Kingswood Junior School on Wednesday night. His topic was how best to nurture children's dreams and talent and help them realise their goals.
Goodenough has spent more than eight years working as a mental coach. He has been involved with Grahamstown schools in the past and has also worked with some of the country’s top sporting greats.
Drawing analogies from sport, music and other scenarios, Goodenough showed how practice and positive reinforcement affect a child’s neurological patterns, and so are key to helping them achieve successful results in life.
He also spoke about identifying the difference between what a child wants and what the parent wants, or thinks the child wants. He highlighted the importance of not pushing a child in the wrong direction. He also spoke about not driving a child to the point where they no longer like what they are good at.
He emphasised helping children set plans in motion to achieve their goals, and create the drive to get there – and further.
He also stressed the bad effects negative reinforcement can have on a developing mind and how it can deaden a child's enthusiasm.
Goodenough’s ideas are outlined in his book, 'Raising Talent'.
