Everyone knows that being a nerd is not easy. Nerds are usually not too popular and might even be the subject of ridicule from time to time. It is the parent’s job to show a child that it is okay to be a nerd. The following are just a few tips to help you do just that.
Find Good Outlets
Your child’s interests might not be popular. Popular interests are everywhere, and you probably know them. One general activity is football. It is fairly easy to find a person who is passionate about mainstream pastimes, but nerds are not usually into mainstream activities. This could make it hard for your child to find friends, and every child needs a support system. It might be a good idea to find out what your child is into, and take him or her to conventions or other events related to his or her interests.
Re-Focus Your Praise
This might be hard to understand, but some parents naturally give off signals that they should not. A parent might say that he or she values education but will turn around and have a football party and forget about an academic decathlon. Parents need to refocus themselves and show children that education matters. This should also be applied to any extracurricular activities and nerdy interests, even if you have to dress up like an alien and go to the movies with your child.
Fortify Your Child’s Interests
Schools can only dive into a subject to a certain extent, since they have a lot of other subjects to cover. It is likely that your child likes one particular subject over another. This is where a STEM program, like Buckeye Education Systems might come in handy. These tools help kids explore subjects, like engineering, with hands-on projects that they might not have been exposed to in school. You will let your child know that it is okay to dive into his or her favorite subject and go wild. It is an easy way to support and further propel his or her education.
Dig Into Their Geekiness
It is likely that your kid is into things that are a little strange. Perhaps he or she fell in love with a particular series on television or is really into comic books. You should dig into this subject matter. Learn everything possible, and try to use this knowledge to get closer to your child. Some children may not understand why they like a certain character or story, but you can analyze them and use this to your advantage.
These tips should make it easier to let your child know that his or her peculiarity is something to be cherished. As much as your child is the twinkle in your eye, you are also an important part of his or her life. By showing that you are there for them, your child will appreciate you a lot!
