My husband attended a seminar where the guest speaker talked about something similar to this. He said that we all have natural gifts and talents - and it's a proven fact that we have the greatest aptitude for growth in areas where we are already naturally gifted. His example: They put a bunch of people in a speed reading class and tested how many words per minute that they could read BEFORE they took the class, and how many words per minute that they could read AFTER they took the class. Everyone improved, but the ones who improved the most, were the ones who were already really good readers. So, because they were building upon a talent that they already posessed, they improved exponentially. For example, if they all improved by double -- then those who were say at 50%, were at 100% after the class (50% increase), but if they were already at 100%, then after the class they were at 200% (100% increase). Am I making any sense? It's so much more clear when my husband explains it. (Explaining things is not an area that I am "naturally talented" in, I guess. ;)
My point in sharing this, has to do with raising children. Like all parents, my husband and I have tried to give our kids lots of different opportunities to participate in a variety of "activites" in order to learn what their talents and interests are. Usually they are most interested in the things that they are naturally talented in -- makes sense.
This process can be trial and error though. And I think we have to be open to the fact that their interests/talents may be outside of what we think they should do, or what we may secretly want them to do, or what we think would be the best for them - for whatever reason. Whether their talents lie in academics, or music, the arts, athletics, or social graces, etc . . . it's important that we help them find their "thing" and give them opportunities to develop and grow in the ways that God intended.
And honestly, this goes for us "big kids" too! I think I'm still searching for my talents . . . sometimes I feel like a "fish, trying to climb a tree". But I do believe that we all have bits of genius in us. The trick is finding it . . . but, once it's found . . . WONDERFUL things can happen. :)
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