How you teach your child to be a high performer is more important than your child’s IQ. In fact, it doesn’t take a high IQ for a child to be a world class performer. A “High Performer” is not born, they are made. That is the message in the book, “Talent is Overrated” by Geoff Colvin. Based on decades of solid scientific study, he explains how ordinary children become among the best performers in the world in their chosen fields. https://www.amazon.ca/Talent-Overrated-Separates-World-Class-Performers/dp/1591842948
You’ve heard about the 10 years of practice as the key to world-class performance. That is somewhat simplistic and misleading, though there is an element of truth in it. The key to outstanding performance is to be found in the concept of deliberate practice. Deliberate practice has several key elements which are necessary.
First, deliberate practice is designed specifically to improve performance. It involves analyzing the skills needed and getting expert advice on how to perform them. An athlete doesn’t design his or her own practice routine until they turn professional. Even then they go to a coach.
Second, in using a coach, the student is looking for an independent source of feedback as to whether they are performing it correctly and information on how to improve. You can’t see yourself as clearly as other people can. A trained coach will see details you cannot possibly observe in your own behavior. https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/behavioral-sport-psychology/
Third, every practice should cause you to stretch beyond your current abilities. It’s this constant effort to be better at your skills that pays big dividends in the end.
The skills you choose to practice should be designed so you can repeat it a lot. The old saw, “practice makes perfect,” is flawed. Golfers ingrain bad habits by their frequent practice of them. Perfect practice is the key. You can’t slack off when practicing a key skill. While people with skills usually enjoy performing, even performing for audiences does not equate to deliberate practice. Football players benefit most when they practice their specific skills. They gain less from scrimmaging as that has a different learning outcome.
Deliberate practice is inherently difficult. You are learning new habits which require focus and intensity. Because it is so hard, you will not be able to maintain the necessary focus for very long. World class performers can usually practice this way for only one to one-and-a-half hours at a time. They may rest and then repeat but rarely practice for more than four hours per day.
These same principles apply to everyone, even older adults. You can improve any skill by a program of deliberate practice.
If you would like more information on this, we would suggest you read Geoff Colvin’s book, “Talent is Overrated.” You may also contact the Educational Foundation of Lower Florence County as we have other resources to help you and your children. contact: info@flo3foundation.org.