What is a strength finder exercise?
A Strength Finder exercise helps children discover what they’re naturally good at and passionate about. By focusing on strengths, children build confidence and develop a positive foundation for tackling challenges. This activity encourages self-reflection and helps both children and parents recognise unique abilities and talents.
How to Do the Strength Finder Exercise
Ask Targeted Questions
Use questions to guide your child in identifying their strengths:
“What do you love learning about?” (This highlights interests.)
“What makes you forget the time?” (This reveals activities they enjoy.)
“What do you find easy that others find hard?” (This points to natural talents.)
“When do friends ask for your help?” (This shows what they’re seen as good at.)
Encourage them to think about hobbies, schoolwork, and social interactions
For younger children, you might need to provide examples to get them started.
Use a Worksheet
If you’re using a worksheet, let them write or draw their answers. For instance, if they’re good at drawing, they could illustrate what they enjoy. This makes the activity more engaging and personal.
Spotting Strengths as a Parent
Pay attention to moments when your child is fully engaged, excited, or doing something with ease. Look out for:
Tasks they complete quickly and well.
Activities they talk about enthusiastically.
Times when others praise them or ask for their help.
Reflect these observations back to them
For example, “I noticed you’re really patient when helping your friends with homework. That’s a great strength!”
Incorporate Strengths Into Their Learning
Once strengths are identified, find ways to include them in learning activities:
If they’re creative, use drawing or storytelling to explore new concepts.
If they’re logical, turn learning into puzzles or problem-solving tasks.
If they’re athletic, use physical games to explain ideas.
How This Helps
Focusing on strengths boosts self-esteem and motivation, especially for children who may struggle in certain areas. It creates a positive learning environment where their unique abilities are celebrated. Recognising strengths also provides a foundation for developing new skills and tackling challenges with confidence.
Daily Strength Recognition
Make it a habit to highlight at least one strength or achievement each day. For every challenge you discuss, aim to point out ten strengths. For example, if they struggled with spelling, acknowledge their effort and highlight how well they did in another area, like explaining a story or helping a friend.
Tell the Truth
It’s important to be honest about strengths. Don’t tell your child they have a strength in an area where they don’t—this can lead to confusion and mistrust. Instead, focus on finding a genuine strength. True strengths stand out because others will notice and affirm them too, and your honesty will mean your child trusts your judgement and guidance. Always be encouraging, but know that identifying a real strength will have a lasting positive impact.