Watching the news lately has got me thinking about leadership and what people think good leadership actually looks like. Is it about winning, strength, power and coercion? Or rather cooperation, trust, kindness and empowerment? And here's the thing: our children are watching too. They're forming their own ideas about what leadership means from the leaders they see in the world, in their communities, in their families, and in their stories.

So this week's question quest feels especially important:

❓What makes someone a great leader?

Leadership isn't just about being in charge, and great leaders throughout history, from ancient philosophers and rulers to modern activists, have shown us that leadership comes in many forms.

Let's explore it, the Knowmads way...

🛠️M – MAKE: A Leadership Shield

Invite your young Knowmads to create a "Leadership Shield" that shows what matters most to them in a great leader.

What you'll need:

• Cardboard (a cereal box works brilliantly)

• Scissors

• Colouring pencils, markers, or paints

• Optional: foil, fabric scraps, or other decorating materials

Here's how:

1. Cut out a shield shape from your cardboard — it can be a classic medieval shape, a circle, or any design your Knowmad imagines.

2. Divide the shield into 4–6 sections (draw lines across it like slicing a pizza).

3. Choose leadership qualities to represent. Talk together about what makes a great leader. Some ideas:

   courage (a lion, a heart, a shield), kindness (helping hands, a heart), vision (an eye, a telescope, a lightbulb), honesty (a balance scale, a clear mirror), listening (an ear, two people talking), fairness (scales of justice)

4. Draw a symbol or picture in each section that represents one quality. Let your child choose the qualities that matter most to them.

5. Add their name at the top or bottom: "[Name]'s Leadership Shield"

6. Decorate!

💬A – ASK: What Leadership Styles Are There?

Leadership looks different depending on the situation, the culture, and the person. Here are some lovely questions to explore together:

• Who is a leader you admire? (It could be someone famous, someone in your family, or even a character from a book or film.) What makes them a great leader?

• Are leaders born or made? Do you think people are naturally leaders, or do they learn to be leaders?

• What's the difference between a leader and a boss?

• Can you be a leader without being in charge? How?

• Have you ever been a leader? When? What did you do?

• If you could lead a group of people, what would you want to achieve together?

• What makes a bad leader? (This flip-side question often reveals deep understanding.)

• Do different situations need different kinds of leaders? (Would the same person who leads a sports team make a good leader during a crisis?)

🧭Explore More:

🎥 Watch:Kid President Asks: What Makes an Awesome Leader?— A fun, inspiring video that gets kids thinking about leadership in their own lives.

📚 Read:I Am Malala(Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai— The inspiring true story of a young girl who stood up for education and became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.

🌍 Visit: Your local town hall or council chambers — Many offer tours where children can see where community leaders make decisions. It's a great way to show how leaders serve their communities.

💛 P – PAUSE: The Leaders We Are

Our children are always watching how we lead our own lives.

They notice when we admit we don't know something. When we apologize after losing our temper. When we ask for their input instead of just announcing decisions. When we show vulnerability or ask for help.

The leadership qualities most of us hope to nurture in them, like courage, kindness, honesty, resilience, can’t be taught through lessons or lectures.

They’re caught.

So this week, consider:

✨ What leadership moments are you modeling? (When you face a challenge, do your children see you giving up or persevering? When you make a mistake, do they hear you make excuses or take responsibility?)

✨ How do you handle disagreements? (Do your children witness you listening with an open mind, or digging in defensively? The way we navigate conflict teaches them about respect, empathy, and finding common ground.)

✨ Are you showing them that leaders are learners? (When you discover you were wrong about something, do you change course? Do they see you reading, growing, and staying curious about the world?)

Home education gives us something precious: our children see us in full. The good days and the hard ones. The moments we shine and the moments we struggle.

That's not a weakness. It's our greatest teaching tool!

Because when they see us leading our lives with integrity, kindness, and courage, even imperfectly, they learn what real leadership looks like.

Not perfection or having all the answers.

But showing up, trying your best, and growing alongside them.

Big hugs,

Anna xx