Since the early 2000s, the importance of coaching in our lives has increased significantly. Many scientific studies have focused on coaching. Fillery-Travis and Lane, in 2006, reviewed the literature of practitioners and academics and found that “everyone likes to be coached and perceives that it has a positive impact on their effectiveness.” They conclude that coaching produces both tangible results, such as improvements in productivity and sales, and intangible results, such as better leadership or relationship management. Coaching now extends to other areas of our lives, such as childcare. Bellevue Webadmin today welcomes Mrs. Ida Akonde, Secretary General of Bellevue NGO, to review the use of coaching in empowering children and youth.
Bellevue Webadmin (BW): Hello to our readers. Today, we are pleased to welcome Mrs. Ida Akonde, Secretary General of Bellevue NGO, to discuss the empowerment of children and youth through coaching. Hello Mrs. Akonde, thank you for being with us today. Let’s start with the definition of coaching for children. What does it consist of?
Mrs. Akonde (IA): Hello, thank you for inviting me. Coaching for children is an interactive and systemic process that aims to support the child in their personal development and learning. It relies on specific techniques to help the child identify their needs, goals, and find solutions to their problems.
BW: And how would you define the autonomy of children and youth in this context?
IA: The autonomy of children and youth is the ability to act independently, making decisions and taking responsibility for their actions. This includes self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and coping with the challenges of daily life. This is what we want for our children and youth; they should be able to manage without us.
BW: How can a parent prepare for coaching for a child?
IA: A parent can prepare for coaching by creating a conducive environment for communication with the child. They must listen to their needs and concerns and be ready to support them. It is also important to establish clear and achievable goals for coaching.
BW: Mrs. Secretary General, can you detail the coaching process for a child?
IA: The coaching process is simple. First, you need to establish a clear goal. Before you start, clearly define the goal of the session. For example, improve understanding of basic math concepts. The second step is to create a conducive environment. This involves choosing a quiet and comfortable place for the session, without distractions. Then, you need to start by understanding. At this point, ask your child why they think they have difficulties in mathematics, for example. Listen carefully to their answers to understand their concerns. The next step is to identify the gaps. Using open questions, the coach identifies the specific areas in which the child is having difficulty in mathematics. For example, fractions, equations, geometry, etc. Next, you need to develop an action plan. Based on the identified gaps, you develop an action plan with specific objectives for each coaching session. For example, understand fractions that day. Using concrete examples is a crucial step. This involves using concrete examples and practical problems to explain mathematical concepts. This can help your child understand better. Furthermore, in the coaching process, the next step is to encourage practice. This involves encouraging your child to practice what has been discussed with them regularly. The penultimate step is to provide constructive feedback; it is advisable to provide constructive and encouraging feedback to your child. For example, celebrate their progress, even if it is small. Finally, in the last step, you track your child’s progress over time. It is advisable to regularly reassess their gaps and adjust your action plan accordingly. Throughout the coaching, it is advisable to be patient and positive; the goal being to encourage and motivate your child, not to discourage them.
BW: What types of questions can a parent use to coach their child?
IA: The types of questions a parent can use to coach their child can vary depending on the goal of the coaching and the specific situation. Let me review in detail some examples of types of questions commonly used and the objectives of these questions.
First, there are open questions. These are questions that require more than a simple yes or no answer. They encourage the child to think and explore their thoughts and feelings. For example: “How do you feel about this situation?”
Then, there are clarification questions. These questions help clarify the child’s thoughts or feelings. For example: “Can you explain what you mean by that?”
Let me also mention solution-focused questions. These questions help the child think about possible solutions to their problems. For example: “What could you do to solve this problem?”
As for goal-focused questions, they help the child identify their goals and develop a plan to achieve them. For example: “What is your main goal in this situation?”
Finally, I will mention reflection questions. These questions encourage the child to reflect on their actions and their consequences. For example: “What do you think you could have done differently?”
BW: In what situations can a parent use coaching for a child?
IA: Coaching for children can be useful in many situations, such as managing emotions, resolving conflicts, improving academic performance, or preparing for important events in the child’s life, such as moving or changing schools.
BW: How can a parent ensure that this coaching is successful?
IA: For coaching to be successful, it is important that both the parent and the child are motivated and engaged in the process. The coach must also be competent and caring, and use techniques that are appropriate for the child’s age and needs. Communication between the parent, the child, and the coach is also essential.
BW: In detail, as a parent, I want to coach my child who has low grades in mathematics. Suppose I master the skills and steps you mentioned earlier, Mrs. Secretary General, detail a coaching session with my child!
IA: Very good question! Suppose you master the process and techniques of coaching, the type of questions to use, and you want to coach your child Jean who has problems understanding fractions!
We will have an introduction of 5 minutes during which the following dialogue could take place with Jean.
You: Hello, today we are going to work on fractions.
Jean: Okay.
Assessment of prior knowledge (10 minutes)
You: What do you know about fractions?
Jean: They are numbers that represent a part of a whole.
You: Very well. Can you give an example of a fraction?
Jean: Yes, 1/2 represents half.
Identification of gaps in 10 minutes
You: In which parts of fractions do you have difficulties?
Jean: I don’t understand how to add fractions.
You: Okay, we’ll work on that.
Explanation of concepts in 15 minutes
You: To add fractions, you need to have the same denominator. For example, 1/4 + 1/4 = 2/4.
Jean: Ah, I see.
Practical exercises in 15 minutes
You: Here are some exercises to practice. What do you get when you add 1/3 and 1/6?
Jean: Uh, I don’t know.
You: Think about how you could find the answer using what we’ve learned.
Discussion and feedback in 10 minutes
You: How do you feel now about fractions?
Jean: I feel more confident.
You: That’s great! Keep practicing and you will improve even.
Conclusion in 5 minutes
You: We have made good progress today. Don’t forget to continue practicing and to ask questions if you have any.
Jean: Okay, thank you!
In this example, as a parent, you used open questions to encourage your child’s reflection, clarification questions to understand their gaps, and reflection questions to help them find solutions. You also provided positive feedback to boost their confidence.
BW: And what are the success indicators for this coaching?
IA: Success indicators may vary depending on the goals set, but we can mention increased self-esteem, greater ability to cope with difficulties, more harmonious family and social relationships, or even better academic performance. The key is for the child to feel more confident and capable of acting autonomously.
BW: Thank you very much, Mrs. Akonde, for these insights into empowering children and youth through coaching. This concludes our interview today. IA: Thank you for this opportunity to share our thoughts on this important topic.