FAQ

What exactly is life coaching for kids?

Life coaching for kids is all about empowering kids through mindset development. Kids learn how to use the power of their mind and the power of their thoughts to create happiness, confidence, and success in their lives, so that they can take their life, goals, and dreams wherever they want to go.

1. Coaching helps kids develop resilience skills. A life coach helps children learn how to manage life’s “curveballs” — whether it’s facing a big change or dealing with a major disappointment. Kids learn how to bounce back and pick themselves up so they can “go for it” in life.

2. Coaching helps kids develop self-esteem from the “inside out”. This helps kids learn how to base their self-esteem on who they are, not on what they have achieved, who they know, or what they do.

3. Coaching helps kids learn to believe in themselves and build self-confidence. A life coach helps kids learn how to move through anxiety and fear so they can stretch outside of their comfort zone, create courage, and go for their dreams with confidence.

4. Coaching helps kids develop their own “inner compass”. A life coach helps kids learn how to think for themselves and make good decisions, so they can stand up to peer pressure and be their own person.

5. Coaching helps kids learn to live life with intention versus drifting through life without direction. By learning self-leadership skills, kids develop an empowered way of thinking that will help them develop a vision for their lives.

People often confuse “life coaching for kids” and parenting.

Life coaching goes beyond the traditional parenting roles of moral and character development, and it goes beyond learning how to treat others and learning how to behave. In fact, what kids learn in my program, most adults haven’t learned! When a parent seeks help with their child it doesn’t mean that they are an “ineffective parent”. Just as some children require more support for a learning disability or other developmental issues, many children also need greater support in the areas of coping skills, building self-esteem, overcoming shyness, dealing with bullies, and so much more.

Why parents hire a life coach for their kids:

There are a variety of reasons why parents hire a life coach to work with their children.

Some of the most common reasons are:

● When they see their kids struggling with low self esteem—getting down on themselves, beating themselves up, or thinking that no one likes them.

● When they want to help their child be more successful in school or extracurricular activities.

● When their child is going through a big change, such as a move, a new school, or divorcing parents.

● When they see their kids struggling with confidence, shyness, or anxiety— shying away from new things or new experiences.

● When they want to give their child a jumpstart in developing self-leadership skills.

● When they see their child making poor choices with peers.

● When there are constant struggles at home around homework, chores, and other responsibilities.

Life coaching versus counseling

Although life coaching and counseling may have similarities, such as asking the important questions, listening, and finding patterns in people's lives, they are not the same thing.

Counseling is designed to help those with more serious issues lead a more normal, productive life…or to get back on track. These types of issues might include anxiety, depression, OCDs, moving past neglect/abuse, or going through a personal crisis at home (such as an illness or divorce).

Life coaching is about helping people reach their fullest potential — helping them get from where they are…to where they want to be. For most people that means building confidence and self-esteem, reaching higher goals, creating more balance and happiness in their lives, and feeling more fulfilled in their lives. It’s about creating what they want. WISDOM Coaching is about partnering with kids in a thought-provoking and creative process to help kids learn how to use the power of their thoughts and the power of their minds to create happiness, confidence, and success in their lives. And it works!

How is coaching kids different from coaching adults?

Coaching kids is definitely different from coaching adults…and the distinction is brain development.

Adults have much stronger critical thinking skills because the frontal lobes of their brains, where critical thinking occurs, are fully developed. These critical thinking skills enable them to make distinctions and to draw conclusions more effectively. Adults also have greater life experience from which to draw upon. That is why life coaches for adults use questions as their main tool for engaging with their clients. Children’s brains are different. Their frontal lobes are not fully developed nor are their critical reasoning skills. As a result, coaching kids requires a stronger teaching component to help them learn these powerful mindset skills. With a coach’s guidance, kids can then learn how to apply the skills to their own lives. And of course, children’s attention span tends to be a lot shorter as well — which is why it is important to find fun and engaging ways to work with kids. And that is why stories are such a powerful tool for coaching kids!

Why using stories is a powerful way to coach kids

Stories are powerful! Stories have been used since the beginning of time, in every country and every culture, to pass along traditions and to teach morals. Stories are powerful learning tools because they make us think…and they make us feel. They imprint a picture in our mind and a feeling in our heart. This creates an experience and helps us understand.

Stories have the power to transform, inspire, and to shape how we feel about ourselves and what is possible for our lives.

Stories give us another perspective, and a door into deeper understanding. And they are a powerful way to connect with children!

Stories stimulate multiple centers of the brain — which leads to deeper learning. When reading or hearing facts, only the center of the brain that turns words into meaning is engaged. However, when reading or hearing a story, not only are the intellectual centers of the brain engaged, but the emotional and physiological centers of the brain are engaged as well. This creates an experience, which leads to deeper learning.

Stories are a great tool for starting important conversations with kids. Stories help children get in touch with thoughts and feelings without putting them on the spot or embarrassing them.

Stories enable children to “learn without lecture” and allow coaches to "teach without preaching.” Through the stories, children get to see the skills in action. That opens the door for them to apply the skills to their own situations, under a coach’s guidance.

Stories are a wonderful refresher tool when kids are learning a new skill.

And, of course... stories are FUN!