It happens everyday, where children label themselves as: not fitting in, feeling a failure, being stupid, being different, or worthless. These children didn't get to this thought space on their own. Somebody or something has reinforced their perceptions of their inabilities rather than their abilities. They have come to believe this as their truth and this leaves them vulnerable to the natural ebb and flow of stress that is part of life.

Then we have the children who feel accepted, likeable, confident. They can solve problems and overcome challenges. They are the ones who are optimistic and put a smile on their face even when they have the right to cry. What is it that makes these children able to deal with life more positively and evade the feelings of worthlessness that have come to surround other children who have faced challenges and been unable to surmount them?

The difference is that somebody somewhere, has equipped them with the tools for making responsible choices that leave...

Now picture this scenario:  A boy has been excluded from his school for punching his teacher. The teacher is known to taunt the children, use sarcasm and derogatory statements.

The boy, who has shown his temper before, acted out of a space of anger and frustration and his behaviour cost him dearly.  He is sent to another school, but his reputation precedes him. He isn't even given the respect or the chance to redeem himself and show people the positive side of who he is.  He is judged and labelled and through this, he gives up and creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of bad behaviour and poor choices.

Along comes you as his Kids Life Coach, who knows the boy's background but tells the boy that all past behaviours and bad choices are left at the door. These will not enter into your coaching relationship. The boy is safe to express himself, but in your Coaching Sessions, he finds a place where choices are made easy. Within the Coaching Space of unconditional acceptance,...

We know as adults that life is not black and white, right or wrong but as children we were taught differently. Children have an inherent need and desire to want to fit in and to be accepted and validated.

Let's take a look at your subconscious mind for a minute. It has the software for your involuntary functions, emotions, and habits. Most of your habits and emotional conditioning were programmed in early childhood before you were mature (or adult enough) to make proper decisions. Many were programmed haphazardly and usually by parents, teachers, peers, the media or technology.

Freud said, We learn as children how we react emotionally and this is carried into adulthood. When we are children, we do not have the faculties that we do in adulthood. We do not know what we are going to need in adulthood to cope. Therefore, as adults we (often) react as children.

It is important to gain an understanding of how we are subconsciously programmed throughout our lives by the things we hear....

To be a success at coaching children is definitely not about being seriously adult like, it is more about tapping into that inner child of yours that is waiting to come out and play. You and I are not perfect and we are work in progress because we understand the value of being successful in life. We are human and we are also looking for our own answers and part of this is the fact that you want to make a difference and leave a legacy at the same time. So what does success mean to you? Oh my this question has been asked in many contexts and I am sure that you will understand by now that it means different things to different people.

I feel that success and leadership go hand in hand no matter the age, circumstances, background, culture, religion, opportunities or abilities. So to answer the question: How can I become a success as a Kids Life Coach? Start seeing your age as a number that is your tally of wisdom, a score card of experience and a celebration of your life well lived.

To...

So here are some ways to coach children to have a positive attitude:

1. Coach children to realise that they are not victims despite what they may be facing is about getting them to choose to not get swept up in an ocean of negativity. Coaching children to be positive and think like a winner is about accentuating their strengths and talents whilst at the same time acknowledging their areas needing improvement through a healthy sense of self awareness.  This way, they learn to respect others and choose to display their behaviour that embodies positivity as a choice. It is about coaching children to actively monitor their thoughts, words and actions. Through a heightened sense of self awareness, they can begin to choose to replace negative with positive.

2. Coaching gives children the much needed time and space to explore the world on their own terms. That is how they learn to think, invent and socialise; to take pleasure from things; to work out who they are, rather than what the...