Just as a seed needs to first grow roots, then develop a shoot, then a bud before becoming a flower, introductions to new pursuits for children need to be approached in a similar way.

Here's how you'll see the "fit types" defined on Kidzmet...

Natural fit :: a compatible personality type, matching cognitive style and many parallel interests and strengths make this a comfortable teacher-student relationship from the outset where the teacher and student intuitively connect.
Complement fit :: this teacher is compatible with the student on many levels, but different enough to be able to stretch the student's understanding of the world and what makes other individuals tick. A good way to discover new passions and ways to learn.
Growth fit :: while not an intuitive fit, when both students and teachers are aware of each other's "ingredients" (e.g. personality, interests and learning style), they can learn to adapt to create a relationship built on mutual understanding. An incredibly valuable match because the student has the opportunity to learn how to interact in a positive way with colleagues and family members that share this personality type.

Encouraging your child's seeds of potential to blossom

When first introducing a child to a new pursuit (e.g. ballet, soccer, piano, science), you need to first plant the seed at the ideal "temperature" with a teacher that intuitively knows how to make that seed take root in the subject matter (compatible personality type, matching cognitive style and many parallel interests--what we call a "Natural" fit on Kidzmet).

If you plant the seeds with a teacher that's too cold or too warm for your child, you take a risk that the seed of potential won't blossom.

Once planted at the right temperature, parents can also begin "watering" the passion flower with a teacher we call a "complement" fit on Kidzmet (compatible on many levels, but different enough to be able to stretch each other's understanding of the world and what makes other individuals tick).

The water helps the child to stretch their personality, cognitive style and interests/talents further and transforms them from a seed into a sprout.

Once the sprout emerges from the ground, exposing the plant to sunlight will help that seedling blossom, or what we call a "growth" fit teacher on Kidzmet (dissimilar personality, interests and learning styles).

At this stage, children are grounded enough in the pursuit to learn to adapt their personality and create a relationship built on mutual understanding, as well as learn life skills that will enable them to interact in a positive way with colleagues and family members as adults...regardless of personality incompatibilities.

Just as with a seeding, adding sunlight or water before the temperature is right will not make that seed germinate. And adding sun in the absence of water will also not help it reach its full potential (or vice versa). Only you as the parent know which stage of growth your child is at in a pursuit...and exactly what teaching "element" (temperature/natural, water/complement or sunlight/growth) they are prepared for. But only by ultimately combining temperature, water and sunlight can a child's seeds of potential truly blossom.