How to Parent a Leo

Leo is the natural leader of the zodiac. They present themselves as being very confident, even if they may feel a little shy inside. If you have a Leo child, they may demand a lot of your attention. They like to be in the spotlight, and they can be dramatic if they sense things are not going their way. However, your Leo child won’t have too much trouble making friends, because they have a fun, infectious energy other people like to be around.

Leos have a very creative side, and they are at their best when they have some type of outlet in which they can express themselves. Your child may thrive in after school art class, or they might love drama or dance lessons. Because they have such a big personality, your Leo child might also be a leader among their peers. Leos tend to know what they want, and they’re able to make decisions for a group. One area they may need to develop more though is their teamwork skills. You may be able to teach your child a thing or two about being patient and listening to the opinions of others.

If You’re a Fire Sign...

If you are an Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius parent to a Leo, you and your child may both have very strong personalities. You probably receive a lot of energy from being around one another, and you might enjoy partaking in activities that get you out of the house and moving around. You might enjoy taking weekend trips away and experiencing new places together. You understand their need for adventure, so you won’t want to sit at home, doing nothing.

Because your Leo child may be a little self conscious from time to time, you can help boost their confidence and urge them to put themselves out there and be a leader among their friends. You might want to encourage your Leo to sign up for after school sports and activities, and you can push them to be more independent and take risks in their life. However, because both of you get so fired up and may have super strong opinions, you might need to practice calming down before reacting to your child’s tantrums.

If You’re an Earth Sign…

If you are a Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn parent to a Leo, you can help your child put their creative energy towards something productive. Your Leo might be full of artistic ideas that they want to explore, and you can urge them to get serious about their unique talents. You may want to give your Leo practical skills that allow them to develop their creative potential, such as teaching them how to paint or build things with clay. You and your child may even want to put together plays at home, so that they can showcase their performance skills.

Because Leos can be a bit lazy, especially if they lose interest in a project, you may also want to teach your child the importance of finishing what they start. However, try not to be too stern with them. Leos have a very sensitive side too, and they may take criticism very personally. Just as you’re showing your child to be mindful of their responsibilities, your Leo may in turn show you that you don’t have to take everything so seriously. From time to time, they may get you to let loose and tap into your fun and playful side.

If You’re an Air Sign...

If you are a Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius parent to a Leo, you will be able to get your child more involved with their peers. Because your Leo might be shy at first, you could help them to overcome their fears in social settings. You are naturally skilled at conversing with others and making people feel welcome, so you may want to teach your child to do the same. Rather than ordering others around, your Leo may take cues from you on how to better communicate what they want. Your Leo child may tend to get wrapped up with their own problems, so you can help them to take other people’s perspectives into consideration as well.

You and your Leo may both get easily bored with having the same routine day after day, so you could enjoy switching up their after school and weekend activities. You may want to try out new museums or explore a different part of your city together. In addition, you may encourage them to get inspiration through reading and writing. You could want to show your Leo how to journal about their ideas, or you might be good at selecting bedtime stories that will appeal to their individual interests.

If You’re a Water Sign...

If you are a Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces parent to a Leo, it may often feel like you and your child are on two different pages. Your Leo may have a lot to say and can be kind of blunt, while you may be more sensitive and emotional. You might want to show your child how to be more understanding and compassionate towards others. Because they usually want to talk about themselves, you can demonstrate to your Leo that it’s important to listen to others and pick up on when their friends might be going through a tough time.

One thing you and your Leo child will have in common is your love for the arts and your big imaginations. You may enjoy one another’s company through playing house and making up stories with their dolls. You’re also able to show them that it’s okay to spend time alone tending to their own interests, rather than always comparing themselves to their peers. In addition, your first instinct is to take care of others, so your Leo child will like all the attention you shower them with, and they won’t shy away from your hugs and kisses.

British Vogue's resident-astrologer, Alice Bell was initially drawn to astrology to answer questions in her life related to relationships, work and her emotions. Friends and coworkers began approaching Alice, looking for similar answers to their challenges. Even though she has helped numerous clients, she is still amazed by astrology’s transformational effects. Follow her @stalkalice.