You know that scene near the beginning of Toy Story where Woody tells Buzz he can’t really fly, then Buzz performs this elaborate (and impressive!) stunt all around the room, very much convincing all of the other toys that he can, indeed, fly?
Buzz lands on the bed and, looking proudly at Woody he retorts, “CAN!”
Woody, also semi-impressed but still very skeptical answers, “That wasn’t flying! That was… falling with style!”
Well. A few summers ago, still fully employing his trusty water wings, Oliver assured me that he was ready to swim on his own. While I wasn’t sure I agreed, I love to give my kids plenty of room to be independent, and it’s very important to Ryan and me that our children are strong swimmers.
So, at the tender age of three, I let him stand alone on the pool steps and took a few steps back into the pool so he could push off toward me.
I wish I could say his first attempt was a glowing success, but it wasn’t. It was scary and sloppy and I’m pretty sure he got a little water up his nose.
But that kid, man was he determined. 
We visited the pool several times a week that summer and I’m pretty sure we made the lifeguard and even some other parents more than a little nervous. But I knew Oliver, and I knew what he was capable of. He was figuring it out!
He began by getting really good at swimming underwater, but it was the coming up for breath that was tricky. So for a while, I would stand in the water on one side of the pool, and he’d push off from the other side. We agreed that I’d pay him a penny for every breath he took as he made his way across!
There were days that I owed him up to four quarters for his efforts – and he definitely got the hang of keeping his head up!
Still, my sister couldn’t help but laugh whenever she’d join us. “Raechel, he totally looks like he’s drowning!”
But he never wanted anyone to “save” him. We were always right there, and that whole summer, instead of swimming, we called it “drowning with style.”
On August 9, Disney’s “Planes” (think “Cars” but, well, in the air!) comes to theaters, and when the nice people at Disney asked me which character in the movie Oliver would most relate to, I absolutely had to pick Dusty, the crop duster. He’s little, unimpressive, and nobody expects a lot from him. But Dusty’s big thing is “reach for your dreams and have courage”, and with the help of people who love him (you can call me Chug, his trainer!), he accomplishes big things in the movie.
However awkward Oliver looked as a 3-year-old swimmer ‘drowner-with-style’, he went for it. And now, as a 6-year old, he is one of the most confident swimmers in the pool! 
And for fun, Disney is offering one Finding My Feet reader a $100 Fandango.com gift card! How to enter? Just leave a comment answering the question: How do you challenge your children to follow their dreams?
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: “”#SweepstakesEntry””; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post”
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/15 – 8/12.
Be sure to visit the Disney Planes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
We talk about being able to make mistakes- sometimes my daughter doesn’t want to Ty something if she’s not sure she can do it right. Making mistakes is how you learn to do it better!
I encourage my 14-1/2 year old to be herself no matter what. We celebrated this by hosing a Quincenierra this weekend. No, we are no Hispanic but she totally digs the culture and concept behind it. And, no, technically, she’s not yet 15. Her birthday is in December and she’s always hated having a winter birthday. So we settled on her 1/2 birthday instead of a winter party. We invited all her friends and danced our little gringo-selves silly. I hope she’ll remember this for years to come.
Our girl is only 15 months old, but a very independent little girl. We let her go and just change her direction if she is headed for trouble. I’m sure she will have big dreams and you just have to let them experiment and figure some things out on their own.
My encouraging my son that “He can do all things through Christ who strengthens him!”
I’d love to win this! Thanks for hosting! My LO is too little to articulate his “dreams” but I believe giving him space to {literally} fall while he’s learning to climb, run, etc. is one of the best things because he’s understanding consqquences & learning his own limits!
I often tell my 4 year old that it’s okay if what he tries doesn’t work out the first time, he can always try again.
I encourage my boys to be whatever their little hearts desire, Jacob (7) keeps wanting to be all of these dangerous things, firefighter, police officer, professional football player, professional wrestler (don’t ask me where that came from) if it is dangerous he is drawn to it. I have always told him that no matter what he chooses I will love him and most importantly I will pray for him. He knows that no matter what he chooses to be when he grows up I am here for him; loving him and no matter what life brings I will be his biggest fan cheering for him, maybe with my eyes covered by my hands but I will be there.
My son’s main passion in this world (right now) is the weather. We don’t have to do a lot of encouraging on this passion, since he already wants to devour everything he can related to weather, but we make every learning opportunity we can find available to him. He checks several weather apps, watches weather documentaries, and we read, read, read! We have taken him to a science museum where he got to experience earthquakes and tornadoes. We will do the same thing when (if) the dream changes and he develops a love for something new.
When I was little, I would tell my Dad that I couldn’t do this or that he would say “Can’t never did nothin'”. We’ve adopted that phrase and use it often for our almost 5 year old daughter. We love giving her opportunities to spread her wings. She’s tried dance lessons, gymnastics and swimming lessons too (all because she wanted to give it a go). We, as parents never pressure her one way or the other to do something. Love that you gave Oliver the courage to keep trying. It’s a great trait for him to have.
How do you challenge your children to follow their dreams?
I remind my daughter EVERYDAY that we love her no matter what she does/believes/says/wants/love/etc. I hope that give her freedom to do as she wishes.
I tweeted- https://twitter.com/ShanLeAnn/status/356837982738710529
lots of encouragement and when they fail, just keep smiling and nodding to say “you’re doing it! keep going!”
We have two boys, so we tell them all the time they can do anything they set their minds to. We ask questions that delve a little deaper to see if they truly comprehend what they are saying and then to help them figure out what it might take to do whatever it is. They dream big sometimes and sometimes it is small, but all dreams are great as long as no one gets hurt, so we encourage them as much as we can.
We offer encouragement and tell them that anything good is worth working for.
It’s hard to let them have independence especially when they’re toddlers, like mine is, but we try to give her choices like picking out Jammie’s and foods/snacks, (within reason) and its working out much Better than battling little things!
Gaspinwall@me.com
Help equip them with what they need to succeed! Then encourage them in their efforts.
My husband and I are continually talking about ways to encourage our son to experiment and try things all the while being careful that we are not squashing his personality. We love how very unique and exuberant he is, and I think if that is harnessed correctly, he can accomplish his dreams.
We don’t have kids yet, but I can’t wait to encourage my kiddos to do whatever brings them joy! My hubby and I are both musicians and I hope to instill that discipline in them as well… even if they HATE practicing along the way ;)
my son is not quite 2, so I guess that my way of encouraging him to follow his dreams is by providing him with many opportunities for him to be curious and learn new things/new words/see new sights. :)
http://www.floralandfudge.blogspot.com
I encourage my children to follow their passions for art and music. My 8 year old is a budding artist, my 10 year old plays guitar and drums, and my 3 year old daughter takes ballet. I applaud their accomplishments and motivate them to keep doing their best.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/356893323828535299
I try to encourage my son to try new things. When he is leery to try something, I will try it myself to show him!
reklaw422 at Hotmail dot com
Our child is only 2.5 months old but when his time comes to follow his dreams, we pray that he chooses to never give up and pursue what he is passionate about.
I don’t have kids, but I encourage my niece by telling her she can do anything she sets her mind to.
austma7@aol.com
We encourage our children to try their best and when they start crying (or whining) we say “dont cry but try”. they take a deep breath and try again. Its so neat to watch our 2 year old try something that may be a bit difficult for her and take her deep breath, and try again!
I remind my kids that they can do anything they want and that God made everybody with a purpose.
We let them pursue whatever they want within limits.
I don’t have kids, but I would encourage them to explore their interests and make sure they feel supported in everything they do.
I encourage my child by supporting his ideas and dreams and by teaching him to work hard
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/356965159014645762
By letting her to try as many avenues as possible.
https://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/356972228346257408
I try to involve my kids in sports or activities that interest them. I also practice with them and encourage them to try their best to achieve their goals.
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellydsaver/status/356972709579726848
I encourage my son to try what he loves. We always take an interest in whatever he does.
We try to give our newly 5 year old son many different opportunities to find something in life he loves (soccer, tball, etc.). And we encourage him to try hard at everything he does (learning to write, read) and praise him as he makes great progress so he sees and feels the wonder of learning and success.
We let our little man take opportunities to do things that give us the willies or frighten us, but let him make up his own mind. His daddy is terrified of snakes, but last night, I took him to the library for a reptile experience and our little man got to help hold a python and he thought it was the coolest thing in the world. We love to give him opportunities and encouragement, even if he’s hesitant. But never, ever force him to do something he isn’t ready to do!
krystal.schamberger@yahoo.com
I like to break goals down into smaller steps to make it easier to experience success.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/357167702453927936
I encourage her, but continue to learn the importance of standing back to give her the space to try…the space to succeed or the space to fail and try again! :)
We encourage practice… we never say they can’t, and we remind them of all they have already accomplished. Plus we remind them that God can help them do anything so all they need to do is ask what he has for them and fall headlong into his plans
giving her space to try, allowing her to fail, and encouraging her to get back up :) well, and pennies, of course ;o}
Because our boys are twins and can often get lumped into things together, we encourage them both to experience as many new things as possible and once they’ve latched on to what they love, we encourage them to give it their all, always keep trying and most importantly to support each other.
I just make sure they know they are supported
we support and encourage our daughters riding sport
We don’t have children, but I can tell you that my parents encouraged my brother and me by always telling us we could accomplish anything we tried. And all we risked was our egos if we failed .
We are challenging our children to follow their dreams by supporting them, encouraging them, and allowing them to feel the pain of failure. We share stories of challenging times when it was hard for us to see our goals and dreams, and how we overcame obstacles. Of course, they are only 8 and soon to be 5, so it’s always the abbreviated version. Above all, we are teaching them to trust themselves, that we love them regardless of success or failure, and to never stop dreaming!
I take the time to listen to my son when he talks about his dreams and passions, even though he is just 7 years old. Even though some may not make sense, I encourage him, and remember that these are his dreams. :)
I have no kids. I would let me just play and learn about interacting with others in sport and fun
we cheer them on really loudly
We’re still teaching him to talk, but we encourage him to do that while we wait for him to develop dreams :-)
I encourage my daughter to try new things–types of sports or activities and when I see she is really interested in something I push her to do the best she can at it and constantly be supportive of her in any decision she makes!
tweeted https://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/357571812999176192
I don’t have kids,but I always try to be supportive of anything my nieces and nephew say they want to be when they grow up.
i tweeted too https://twitter.com/jessrwarfield/status/357574270475436035
It’s fun to let them dream big but also try to steer them towards good goals.
I guess I’m a part of the ‘school of hard knocks’ crowd. My kiddos want to try something? Go for it, kid! If you happen to get hurt in the process, you’ll try a different approach next time, right? I try not to discourage exploration and inquiries. Hoping for brave, curious kids!
I have two nieces and I don’t try to encourage them the way a parent would. However, I do try to inspire them and open them up to new interests by taking them on day trips to local museums, concerts, and storytelling events at the library. We participate in arts and crafts classes once a month and bake together. I spend every Saturday morning and afternoon with them while my brother and his wife work so we try to make it a fun experience and I always applaud their efforts! Hopefully they feel comfortable enough to get excited over trying new things at other times! :)
tweeted https://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/357716787338555392 thanks!
I challenge my children by enrolling them in sports.
I leave it up to them. I think the worst thing to do is add pressure. Let them decide to put their face in, ride that roller coaster, go for the goal! And of course be there at the end with major screams and proud hugs and kisses!!
I try to give them the tools to succeed on their own, and if they need help, I do that, too. No pressure situations work best for us!
I challenge them by giving them steps to follow in order to reach their goals They want to go to the anime convention, then first they have to do chores to earn the money to get there! It’s not just about giving them work to do though It’s also about supporting and encouraging them and helping them find ways to get to where they want to go :)
Tweeted :) – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/358408834399748096
I encourage my daughter to keep trying even when she thinks it’s too difficult to go on. I let her know anything that is truely important to her is worth fighting for to press on.
I encourage my kiddos by doing lots of different activities with them to foster a love of trying new things! I also sign them up for classes to help them learn and grow and find undiscovered talents!
Tweet!
https://twitter.com/KaizenFashion/status/358680530885152769
I try to speak as positively as possible and not knock down their ideas.
chambanachik at gmail dot com
I encourage and support them to experience all they like, enjoy the process of trial and error. It was not always pleasant and smooth, however I do believe you got to give them chances to grow.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/359148942119800835
I tell them I’m proud of them. Encourage them to spend their time doing things at which they feel competent and valued
https://twitter.com/Merle0304/status/359730293730578433
i think the key is to have them try many things, whether it’s in the arts, sports, or intellectual pursuits, and see what they spark to or are good at–even if it’s not necessarily what you desire. it’s best that they find something that they’re passionate about, not what they feel pushed into doing!
kolpin4680 at gmail dot com
tweeted
https://twitter.com/kolpin4680/status/360604757620043777
I challenge my children to follow their dreams by giving positive reinforcement, motivating them often, and enrolling them in classes or teams that help make those dreams become more a reality. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I tell them to give it their all and to try their best.
I tell them not to give up on something and to study hard.
I help my kids by opening them up to new opportunities. For example, my son loves playing video games which would sometimes drive me crazy since I would have to yell to get him off of the PS3. So this summer, instead of yelling, I signed him up for a summer computer programming camp for kids at our local University and it’s been awesome! He’s programmed his own ninja video game and has found something that he truly loves and wants to continue learning about!
That it is not how you start the race but how you finish it.
we try to expose them to different opportunities to find out what they like
I tell them if they start they can’t quit until the season is done
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/rosannepm/status/364933869033631745
I always tell them that they can do anything they put their mind to
tell them to work hard, and to never give up and don’t listen to what anyone says.
We encourage them to try new things and believe in themselves.
I give my daughter the freedom to try things in a different way and use her imagination.
My kids are older, so the encouragement frequently consists of being a sounding board as they think out pros and cons, ins and outs of different things. I sometimes point out things they don’t seem to have considered, but it is pretty self-directed by now.
I sit with my kids once a month to make a schedule, and I love when they have tons of feedback! IT’s something to look forward to every month, even if it is as small as a trip to the library or learning a new sport!
I also show my kids that hard work pays off, my husband and I are in the process of opening our own business, so the kids really see how things can happen if you really try!
By teaching them critical thinking and supporting their decisions.
https://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/365992144726532097
I encourage my kids by being their biggest and loudest cheerleader! I always let them know that anything can be accomplished if you work hard enough at it and I support them every step of the way!!
Brittney House BBrittBrat1398@yahoo.com
I encourage my daughter to practice her piano.
I challenge my children to follow their dreams by helping them to set up small personal goals for themselves and encouraging them to accomplish it in a positive way. Guiding my kids towards making positive decisions and having favorable outcomes helps build character and endurance to succeed.
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/kissxmonkeybutt/status/366273547385049088
By setting a good example and being their biggest support.
by giving them individual tasks based on their strong point to help them excel
star95011atyahoodotcom
I let them know that they can do anything they want to.
We give them small tasks that they can complete so they feel confident.
ericacarnes(at)gmail(dot)com
i do not have kids but i live when my nephew learn somehing new and trying to find his way in the world
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/366660486068056064
I encourage them by helping them build confidence in themselves.
By cheering them on and helping in any way possible.
My children are adults now but I always tried to find ways to let them achieve small steps on the way to a big goal.
I encourage them to tell me anything. And when they do, I never ever talk them down.
jbodawg at outlook dot com
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/366821371529011201
I challenge my kids by giving them praise and making sure they work hard to pursue their dreams.
tweeted https://twitter.com/tracyparral/status/366863499156144128
I encourage them to overcome their fears, celebrate their successes & walk with them through their failures
I encourage my children to achieve their goals by supporting them and by encouraging creativity and confidence
I encourage our kids to reach for their goals by asking them how they are doing, what they want to do and how they plan to do it!
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
By encouraging them to follow their dreams, try different things and to challenge themselves
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/366987530119290881
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I make sure all three of them know how important, special and unique they are. I also encourage them with lots of positives.
I encourage my kids my kids by encouraging them to do anything they set their mind to. My motto to them is the bible verse “With God all things are possible.”
heatherstamper09@aol.com
https://twitter.com/eaglesforjack/status/366993539437051904
I always tell them to believe in themselves and that you wont know if you like something or not unless you try it!
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/367020387332132864
I tell my kids they can be anything they want if they put the hard work in.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/367021274540683265
we tell her she can be whatever she wants to be when she grows up.
Encourage their creativity and allow them to dream big!
we homeschool so our kids can focus on subjects that they enjoy and have opportunities to follow their own dreams in life
pryfamily5@gmail.com
tweeted https://twitter.com/pryfamily5/status/367083463758725120
pryfamily5@gmail.com
I encourage him to try new things and expose him to many new things – granted he’s only 8 months, but new book, new toys, new textures, rain on his skin, puddles after the warm summer storms, sandy beaches etc
You never know what you’ll want to be or do in life until you know what’s out there!
tweeted
https://twitter.com/MelindaJoy926/status/367727643606519809