Leadership Program

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

All communities need role models and leaders. Most of us agree that professions such as medicine, technology, education, business and industry, politics, and the arts need people who can use intelligence, creativity, and critical judgment.

We believe it is our job, as role models and childcare professionals, to help in the development of leadership attributes and qualities, and skills in children at an early age.

Our leadership program helps teach kids to feel comfortable in and addressing large groups of children, have others respond well to their suggestions, and build interest in setting the direction or style of play for their peers. We believe leadership in children can be nurtured and grown and, in turn, build great amounts of self-respect and worth.

Whoever said “Great leaders are made not born” was on the right track. Taking the initiative, making suggestions, providing direction, being sympathetic to the problems of others are all characteristics that can make great leaders. Fortunately, they are also behaviours that can be encouraged in our children.

TEACHING LEADERSHIP QUALITIES TO CHILDREN:

We want to help your child to be a leader, but what are the qualities of a leader? Here are some of the qualities required and how we can encourage the development of these qualities.

INTEGRITY – our educators always remember to be a good example, a role model for your child. We teach by example, and integrity is a quality kids learn from their caretakers and parents. One tool that is very helpful is storytelling. We have books that tell us about the value of integrity in our reading corner.
COURAGE – When your child shows courage, we notice it and praise it. It takes courage to tell our educators about problems or bullying and we encourage kids to “share fearlessly” with us.
CREATIVE, INDEPENDENT THINKING– When we talk with your child about any subject at all, we always try to ask open questions, that encourage creative thinking. Using the “One Step Farther” principle. After we have received all the obvious answers, we ask one more question, to come up with a deeper, more creative idea. Questions like “Why”, “What would happen if…”, “How do you think they would feel…”, encourage your child to think creatively.
SELF-BELIEF – One of the most important things we can help teach your child is to believe in themselves and in their ideas, visions, and abilities. We try to encourage them every step of the way. When your child tells us that they want to be the richest person in the world, we don’t laugh them off as if that is something beyond them. Instead, we ask your child what he plans to do to achieve that goal. We want children to know that nothing is beyond their capabilities. A leader is a person who believes in himself. It is only when someone believes in what they are doing, can they convince others to follow the same path. Most children have goals, and a few know just what they are going to do to achieve these goals. Having goals is the first step towards leadership – the second step is knowing how you are going to achieve these goals, and if they are feasible at all.
CONFIDENCE – this is one of the most important qualities required for success in general. To develop confidence in your child, we praise your child sincerely and often and develop a habit to talk about your child’s strengths and achievements with him every day.
RESPONSIBILITY – A leader takes responsibility. Good leadership is knowing when you made a mistake, when you took a wrong decision, and having the ability to admit your mistakes and apologize. We teach your child to know that they are the “boss” of their own life. Their success is their responsibility. When your children blame someone else or something else for a mishap or come up with excuses, we see this as our opportunity to encourage your child to assume responsibility and we make sure that your child knows that it is Ok to make mistakes. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn. We help your child draw conclusions, without ‘making them wrong,’ by asking: “What did you learn from this?”, “What do you think went wrong?”, “Why do you think this happened?”, “How could you avoid this?” and again, “What do you think would happen if…?”
PLANNING – Many children dream big, but they don’t plan on how they will be able to achieve their goals. Teaching your child, the importance of planning is a large part of our program. When children are chosen as leaders, they are asked to come up with a plan for the day and stick to it. They help plan the group games we play to the craft projects we make. They can change their plans along the way, but we show them that it is best if they follow a plan to make sure we have time for everything. The best leaders are those that chart a course of action in advance and stick to it.

CHILD LEADER OF THE DAY

Child leader of the day (Div 1) help with the following in our programs:

• Helping choose the days activities (group games, programming ideas, themes)
• Acting as a positive role model
• Helping lead or coach games and activities

JUNIOR LEADERS

Being a part of the Junior Leaders group is a privilege at TOPP KIDS and is geared for Div 2 Children (Grades 4-6). Junior Leaders are coached to become the “best version of themselves” with the program aimed towards children learning life skills, community stewardship, and leadership qualities. They are privileged with running TOPP KIDS Club Office within their program with the support of Mentors and/or an educator. Children who become Junior Leaders sign a contract, holding them responsible to the values and tasks of a Junior Leader and to act as strong role models for all other children following TOPP KIDS
Leadership values to INSPIRE, DEVELOP and LEAD.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A JUNIOR LEADER: