“Stop immediately running up to the school to deal with (what your child deems) is a difficult teacher,” says, Wes Hall, Parent Empowerment Instructor. “Unless the challenge involves sexual harassment, racial under or overtones, or physical violence perpetrated against your child, stay home!” Hall, went on to say.

Is it possible that we contribute to our children’s inability to keep a job, based on how we handle situations in their early years of development? As an adult, you can probably point to a time you had to deal with a difficult boss or co-worker (for some of you, you won’t have to think, back, too, far lol). What if you quit every time you encountered a superior with a nasty disposition or a boss who simply did not like you and made your life a living hell. Could you call your mom or dad and have them scurry to your job and take your boss to task (take a moment and visualize that happening and enjoy a good laugh).

Take a deep breath, listen to your child as he/she explains the challenge, then say, “Name three positive way we can handle this concern?” Do not rush them, nor give in to their demands that you handle it, mom … or even greater than that possibility – your own urge to march to the school in your pajamas and footies and give the teacher a piece of your mind – based fully on your remembrance of how you were treated when you were in school.

The growth possibility inherent in this procedure is identified and furthered by intentionally developing a problem-solving mindset in your child, pertaining to handling difficult encounters involving authority. By reinforcing this process and participating through instruction and support, you can help build confidence and self-esteem in your child per increasing the possibilities of producing positive outcomes on his/her own. By gaining a deeper understanding and belief that he/she can authentically troubleshoot complex exchanges with authority figures before exercising the need to call for help or resort to exhibiting negative behavior, we provide our children the personal power to dictate outcomes and produce win/win scenarios in their lives.

"We increase the possibilities of our children producing positive outcomes by empowering them with critical information that contributes to their ability to see every situation through multiple lenses. - thus expanding their repertoire of options and providing them more opportunities to succeed," Wes Hall 

Do students produce great academic results by accident? Is there a realistic strategy successful parents use to develop high achieving students? Are there simple techniques you can use that will give your child an added advantage in school and life?

The answer to those questions is a resounding "Yes!!!" In this blog I will share some of the secrets successful parents use to prepare their children to compete in today's highly competitive global marketplace. Notice I used the term, "Global." The invention of the Internet has opened us up to a global society and global marketplace. Help your child think globally and prepare accordingly.

"If your child shows up in my classroom without an End-Game, their failure is not their own," says Wes Hall, CEO of the Institute for Student Empowerment. How can you expect your child to succeed academically, if you do not provide them with a road-map for success?

Your child's road-map should consist of the type of grades you would like them to achieve, the kind of attitudes and behavior you want them to exhibit, the manners you would like for them to exhibit when addressing authority, what GPA they will have upon graduation from high school, what college choices they might want to consider, and what it will look like for them working in their major - along with many other pointed variables.

Make your child's End-Game as detailed as possible and have them participate in its creation. Leave room for them to agree with the terms and sign the document. You will have co-created an agreement that you can revisit if and when your child deviates from the path.

When was the last time you created a habit on purpose? Take your time and think about that question ... I'll wait.

The fact is, most habits that control our lives and create the world we live in, were created as a result of happenstance, accident, or via exposure to something we unconsciously allowed to become a fixture in our lives.

And so it is with our children.

God provided us the ability to make our lives simple and great at the same time. He placed inside of us a mechanism that when properly used, would enable us to produce amazing results without having to think about them ... the mechanism is called "Habit."

If your child is between the ages of newborn to 3, you can really benefit from this message. Now is the time to instill valuable habits in your child pertaining to education, study habits and a love for academics. Regardless of the age of your child you can begin now helping them create new habits that will help them produce amazing results.

A new habit can be created in 21 days. After the 22 day the habit will kick in and begin to work for you. In other words, you have to first work for it and then if faithfully works for you. Teach your child the powerful process of creating habits on his own. Then, teach him how to watch for new habits that try to enter his life without his permission (friends, work habits, attitudes, etc.). Habits are the key to creating and maintaining the great life your child is capable of producing.

A great way to help your child understand his/her personal responsibility to their own educational process is to help them recognize the value of "Focus." Sit your child down and ask them if they know what the word focus means. Allow them time to respond. Ask them to give you examples of people they know who exhibit a great amount of focus - then ask them to describe the results those people produce ... academically.

Most children don't think about their "Focus Quotient." (their ability to hold their focus on a particular item or subject of their choice). We understand that the attention span of a young person is not very long and it will remain as such unless you make them aware of the fact they can strengthen and increase their ability to focus.

Just as you can increase the length of time you can remain submerged under water by practicing holding your breath longer each time. You can teach yourself to increase your focus quotient, by practicing holding your focus on something until you decide to release yourself from the act. You can teach your child how to do so, as well. The ability to focus intensely and apply that focus to whatever they desire, is what separates the good from the great, and the star from the superstar.

A teacher once asked me, "Mr. Wes, why do so many of my African American young men turn their assignments in late or incomplete?" I responded, "When do their moms pay their bills, and and in what fashion are those bills paid (paid in full or partial payment)?" If she has made it a habit to pay her bills late, she may have inadvertently passed that habit onto her son, as it relates to his homework. If she constantly, "Puts a little something on it," in terms of paying her bills, she may have taught him that turning in some homework is better than not turning in any at all.

Building a super achieving student requires work, commitment, and stick-to-it-ness. The common denominator and best predictor of student success is parental involvement. Parents, "YOU MATTER!" The above proven strategies work --- if you apply them. Check back soon for more important strategies that will help you develop your child into a super achieving student! Please feel free to leave a comment if you plan on using any of the strategies for your child. Thank you!
More information about Wes Hall and his Parent Empowerment Workshops can be found HERE