By Jenny Twitchell
The Answer Staff Writer
 
“I want someone to love me for who I am,” sings Nick Jonas, as images of a blind painter, a runner with a prosthetic leg, and an Army mom flash along to the tune’s music video (and if you don’t know who Nick Jonas is, ask your teenage daughter). This peppy song has a point – allow children to develop into who they uniquely are, the point of the Kid Unique workshop at Central Christian Church last month.
 
“Kids who know who they really are do better,” said Dan Webster, who presented the workshop to a group of about 140 parents at the Henderson location. “They grow up to be better parents, better employees, spouses, and have a deeper sense of security and self confidence.”
 
The workshop was based on the recently published book, “Kid Unique: Helping Kids Discover Who They Are” written by Dan Webster, an author, teacher, communicator and founder of Authentic Leadership, Inc.; and local contributing authors, who are both leaders at Central Christian Church: Tony Schwartz, director of the Element Junior High Ministry; and Chris Trethewey, member of the Executive Team.

“We wanted to create a tool, a resource to help parents discover who their kids are, and who God wants them to be,” Trethewey said. “Your kid is unique. Discover that. Help them discover that.”

The book teaches parents and youth leaders that being encouraging to children by “getting off the sidelines and into the discovery game” teaches kids that they matter, and the “have gifts and talents to share with the world,” and have a bright future.

But as most parenting goes: easier said then done. During the workshop, Webster described four tools to help parents: observation (seeing kids), exploration (inspire kids to learn about themselves by trying new things), affirmation (identifying what is right with your child), and revelation (listening to God’s whispers).

As an example of exploration, Webster described an encounter he had with one of his son’s friends, who was just about to finish college, and she had no idea what she was going to do with her life.

“Do you want help with that?” he asked his son’s friend. “Learn how to be more self-aware of what happens inside of you as you go through life. Learn who God wants you to be.”

Everyone has subjects to talk about where they become so engaged in a conversation that they forget the time, the day, and everything around, but during that same conversation, your neighbor could be snoring, Webster said.

“What makes you come alive?” he asked the friend. “What makes life come back to you? In those moments of life, there are clues, and you need to pay attention to those.”

It is the same idea for parents and their children. Webster explained that parents must become actively involved in discovering what makes their children come alive. “Each discovery gives us clues, be a Sherlock Holmes kind of person, have an explorer’s heart,” he said. “Where is there life in your kid? What is he or she doing when they come alive?” It’s at those moments that parents can encourage their children to pursue whatever makes them happy. 

With four kids of his own, Chris Wiseman, who attended the workshop, said there is no end to trying to be a better father.

“I want to be a good role model,” he said. “I want my sons to grow into the men they need to be, and my daughters to have the kinds of families they want to be a part of. I want them to be strong and confident enough in who they are.”
 
The book and video of the workshop are available by visiting kidunique.com.  For more information about Central Christian Church call (702) 735-4004 or visit www.centralchristian.com.