4 Ways to Help Your Child Develop Wisdom

When we think of wisdom, we often picture older adults who have learned a lot through life. But wisdom isn’t just for grown-ups. Kids can show wisdom when they think before acting, solve a problem in a fair way, or make choices that show good judgment. Wisdom means using what you know to make the right decision.

National Heritage Academies’ Moral Focus Specialist Colby Tein explains it like this:

“Wisdom is a virtue that can be developed through encouraging children to stop, think, then act. Ask questions such as, ‘What is the right thing to do?’, ‘What might happen if you choose this?’, or ‘Will your actions be helpful or hurtful?’ to guide decision making. Another way to grow wisdom in children is by modeling with real-life examples how to weigh options, learn from mistakes, and choose what feels right.”

Tein has some ways you can help your child practice wisdom at home:

1. Show Them How It’s Done: Kids learn a lot just by watching. If you think through your choices out loud, or share what you learned from a past mistake, your child sees wisdom in action.

2. Let Them Learn from Consequences: It can be hard to watch your child make mistakes, but those moments are powerful teachers. For example, if they forget gym shoes and aren’t able to participate in the fun of gym class chances are they won’t forget it next time. Small mistakes help kids learn to make better choices in the future.

3. Stay Involved: Talk often with your child about their interests, strengths, and goals. When they have a picture of what success looks like, it’s easier for them to make wise choices today that will lead to a brighter tomorrow.

4. Pay Attention to Their Friends: Friends matter. The people your child spends time with can shape how they act. Talk with your child about what makes a good friend so they can choose friends who encourage them to do what’s right.

Raising wise, thoughtful children takes teamwork between home and school. By guiding, modeling, and encouraging smart choices, we can help children grow into thoughtful, caring, and confident leaders.

National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school. Learn more at nhaschools.com and find a school near you.