Supporting children to tap into their individual strengths can help to increase their positive coping and wellbeing (Proctor et al., 2011; Zhao et al., 2021). Parents are well-placed to help children recognise and encourage their strengths. This is often referred to as strength-based parenting, which can be conceptualised as parents identifying and encouraging their child’s unique personality, abilities, talents and skills (i.e. strengths) (Waters, 2015a; Waters et al., 2019)). Strength-based parenting aims to enhance a child's strength-based knowledge, their awareness and recognition of strengths, and also their strength use - the utilisation of their individual strengths across different situations.

The use of strength-based parenting has been associated with many positive outcomes for children. First, strength-based parenting has been associated with decreased stress levels in children (Waters, 2015a). Children whose parents adopt a strength-based parenting approach have been found to utilise strength-based coping when faced with minor stress in their lives (Waters, 2015a). This is supported by findings indicating that strength-based parenting increases a child's awareness of their strengths (Waters 2015b), which will increase their utilisation of these strengths when faced with adversity. Secondly, after engaging in strength-based activities children have been found to experience an increased sense of life satisfaction (Proctor et al., 2011; Waters, 2015b). Increased wellbeing and life satisfaction observed in children as a result of strength-based parenting is most likely related to their increased ability to persevere in light of challenges (Waters et al. 2019). This increased perseverance in children, as a result of strength-based parenting, has also been posited to improve academic achievement (Waters et al., 2019).

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to them their own" - Benjamin Disraeli

Taken together, recent research has demonstrated that children and teens with parents who adopt a strength-based approach to their parenting experience reduced stress, greater wellbeing and life satisfaction, and improved academic performance. These positive implications occur through children learning to utilise their own strengths, engage in strength-based coping, and having higher levels of engagement and perseverance.

There are two main ways that parents can become more aware of their children’s strengths – these are summarised in the section below and are taken from Waters (2015a).

Strategies to employ within strength-based parenting, which have evidence to support their utilisation, include:
  • Familiarise yourself and your child with the different character strengths – you can complete a character strength survey to help understand your/ your children’s unique strengths (see https://www.viacharacter.org/resources/activities/the-via-classification-of-twenty-four-character-strengths).
  • Strength spotting: Take notice of when your child uses a strength, and highlight and celebrate this with them, for example, “I noticed that you kept going with that assignment even though it was difficult, that showed great perseverance”,
  • Strength Spotting: Identifying the strengths underlying the actions of the child and verbally communicating this to the child. This has been demonstrated to increase motivation, positive communication and interpersonal relations (Komazawa and Ishimura, 2015)
  • Asking strength-based questions to your child to provide them with an opportunity to reflect and enhance their strength knowledge. Strength-based performance appraisals within an organisational setting often result in improved motivation, interpersonal relations, perceived social support (van Woerkom & Kroon, 2020).
  • Facilitate an environment that encourages engagement in strength that you have observed in your child
  • Role model strengths to your child

Further Resources

  • School TV have a number of brief video clips on character strengths:

Your Child at their best: https://knox.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter-external-resource/your-child-their-best-strengths

Helping Your Child Be Their Best: https://knox.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter-external-resource/helping-your-child-be-their-best-strengths

Reference list;

- Proctor, C., Tsukayama, E., Wood, A. M., Maltby, J., Eades, J. F., & Linley, P. A. (2011). Strengths Gym: The impact of a character strengths-based intervention on the life satisfaction and well-being of adolescents. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(5), 377–388. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2011.594079

- Waters, L. (2015a). The Relationship between Strength-Based Parenting with Children’s Stress Levels and Strength-Based Coping Approaches. Psychology, 6, 689-699. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.66067.

- Waters, L. (2015b). Strength-based parenting and life satisfaction in teenagers. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal,2, 158–173. doi: 10.14738/assrj.211.1651

- Waters, L.E., Loton, D. & Jach, H.K. (2019) Does Strength-Based Parenting Predict Academic Achievement? The Mediating Effects of Perseverance and Engagement. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20, 1121–1140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9983-1

- Zhao, Y., Zheng, Z., Pan, C., & Zhou, L. (2021). Self-Esteem and Academic Engagement Among Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 690828. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.690828