As a parent, how much do you even realise that you are your children’s number one life coach? When it comes to coaching your kids, do not underestimate your role as a parent, and please do not be lazy playing that role in your children’s lives.
You may assume that your kids will know some things on their own, but then you get to find out they don’t.
You may also assume that they should be taught everything in school, but at last you get to discover they weren’t. That means there is a learning gap between what they are supposed to know and what they actually do know.
In what little ways can you bridge that gap with your kids in a way that engenders good rapport between you and them?
Of course, there might be many ways to that end. But in this post, I will suggest capturing the coachable moments with them.
Coachable Moments
Coachable or teachable moments’ refer to those unplanned or informal opportunities for you as a parent to have conversations with your kids or wards with the aim of helping them to solve problems or learn a good lesson they could use in life.
It is about impacting valuable lessons to your kids while life is at play.
Here are 3 ways you capture the coachable moments with your kids
1. Don’t be an absentee parent
One good advice I can give you as a parent is this: be there for your kids.
And I know being there for your kids can take many forms. For instance, it can be about providing for them or paying their school fees. Any average parent would score high on those.
But how about being physically available for them as their life coach?
Certainly life will throw up coachable moments, but if you are not there for them, how can you take up that little responsibility?
2. Look out for coachable moments
When you are there for your kids, you will often find some coachable moments to explore.
They abound in your everyday relationship or activities with them.
Train your eyes (and your other senses) to recognise coachable moments with your kids and you will surely find some.
Whether you are at the dining table with them, or watching television together or you are driving them to school, always look out for coachable moments.
If you are not looking for, you may pass the opportunities when they present themselves.
3. Utilise the coachable moments
When life hands you a coachable moment with your kids, please don’t flunk it.
The coachable moment may come in two ways: an opportunity for you to reinforce an observed positive behaviour or correct a bad behaviour.
In either case, utilising the coachable moments enables you as a parent to mould your kids or wards into better version of themselves.
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As a parent, if you are there for your kids or wards, life will definitely hand you some coachable moments.
Look out for such moments in your every day activities with your kids. And when you do find them, take advantage of those moments and impart lessons that will help your kids or wards become better versions of themselves
Have you had any coachable moments with your kids? Please share your experience in the comment section.
Victors Corner Blog 
My wife and I have one son who is now an adult. We made mistakes along life’s journey but learnt from our mistakes. Our son is now a Pentecostal Christian, so he’s one of your mob.
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Your “son is now a Pentecostal Christian.” This is the best thing I have heard from you since we started our online conversations.
I take it that he doen’t only believe in God, he also has a personal relationship with Him. Good and commendable. I hope that one day, you will be like him.
yes, when it comes to parenting, no one is perfert. I am new it, I am making mistakes but I am learning alot too. Thumps up to God the Father who doesn’t make any mistakes.
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Hi Victor,
This is an excellent post and full of words of wisdom. May parents look for opportunities to inspire, uplift and encourage their children at all times and, when necessary, lovingly, gently but firmly discipline them.
Keep up the good work!
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Thank you for the contribution.
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I was going to ask if you have your own children, and how is your experience of having coachable moments with them?
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Yeah, I remember the proprietor of the secondary school I attended once lamented that most parents have a disconnect with their wards as a result of prioritizing personal pursuits ahead of their kids. This stuck in my head early on.
Work, further studies (Certification, Masters PhD etc.) and other engagements should be well planned to enable one have enough time to coach these kids. Your PhD or multimillion dollar business cannot erase the pain of knowing your absence caused your child to be molested or misled by another ‘villain’ coach in the mould of the Fox in the little red riding hood.
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Thanks for this wonderful contribution. There is nothing more for me to add. Welldone.
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This is an apt topic. I have found that one of the most effective coachable moments is when they ask questions, or just make comments on matters.
These give me an instant insight into their thoughts and views. It’s great to take instant time out even from your busy activities to offer insight they can relate to.
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You are right Babafemi. The questions our kids ask give us insight to what is on their minds. And the answeres we provide for those questions afford us the opportunity to impart on them as well.
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