Does creative potential have potential?

[Lineoutt]

We tell our children they are "special" that they are destined for great things. I wonder if we are totally lying.

I volunteer at a children's center and I have noticed something. Several kids out of the bunch show a lot of potential creatively (I.E pull together some crazy projects and seem to see things in different ways). Anyway, as cool as I think this is I wonder if anything can come of it. Two (lets name them fred and nina) of these kids have horrible work habits and fred almost never tries hard in anything that he isnt interested in. If fred works with someone with follow-through then he contributes really well but if he doesn't then he never does any work.

So I ask you guys. Do you guys think "fred" and "nina" will be able to suceed in the real world? at first I was saying 'definite yes' but now I am not so sure.

 

[crudus]

I think it is worth telling people they are "special" and what not to actually get the kids who are going to grow up to be great. I would think we would get less Picassos and Da Vincis if we tell them they are going to fail.

 

[RatRace123]

For a lot of children we are lying, but it's more comforting to say you're special and you're gonna be a success. Rather than saying, you're gonna work at an Arby's and you're gonna die alone.

Some may show potential, you have to foster that and not let them sucumb to the mundacity.

 

[Tyburn Cross]

Either of them can succeed if their parents are actively involved in their upbringing. If those same parents expect the schools to raise the kids for them... not so much.

However, children are not snowflakes, and we shouldn't treat them as such. There are studies now that are finding that the kids that never face adversity, social or otherwise, aren't prepared to face the real world.

Getting a medal for being 28th on a team of 29... Not the way to raise our children. Giving them good grades when they don't deserve them...

Example:

Teen Self Esteem [http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-teen-self-esteem-20100704,0,4193165.story?page=1]

Edit: Snowflakes, not slowflakes. I see what I did there.

 

[HT_Black]

Believing in yourself and the power of imagination is well and good and all, but unless you can do what it takes to make your dreams come true, you might as well be sleeping.

 

[Deacon Cole]

"For talent without craft is like fuel without an engine. It burns wildly but accomplishes nothing." ~ Robert McKee

 

[DeadlyYellow]

We tell our children they are "special" that they are destined for great things. I wonder if we are totally lying.

Often considered a mistake in general, as it leads to a sense of entitlement.

There is nothing wrong with harnessing potential, you just need to be careful how you go about it.