Today, I sat down with my students to teach them HTML. This year, I chose to teach kids HTML instead of Python. Why? Because it’s part of their school syllabus, and I want them to excel in school while also gaining practical skills they can carry into life.
As we moved from !DOCTYPE, to tags to headings to paragraphs, something deeper struck me. I realized I wasn’t just teaching them how to build web pages. I was also teaching them leadership – specifically, business leadership, which is one of the courses I’ve included for them this year.
To me, leadership isn’t about standing in front of people giving commands. It starts with leading yourself first – your thoughts, emotions, decisions, and daily habits.
That’s why today, I introduced them to journaling. I asked their parents to get them a dairy so they can write down their activities, problems, and possible solutions. Because true leaders are reflective. They analyze their lives, learn from daily experiences, and grow intentionally.
Related Post: Dear Diary – Teaching Kids the Power of Talking to Themselves.
Journaling isn’t common among kids here. Growing up, I didn’t keep one myself. Yes, I remember many moments from my childhood, but I know I would have remembered them with greater clarity if I had written them down. Who I am today is shaped by so many little experiences I never documented.
Like in 1989. I was ten years old, and my father handed me the family poultry business to manage during the holidays. He showed me how to record daily sales and expenses. That experience lit something in me.
I started selling at slightly higher prices, made extra profit, and used some of that money to buy sweets, which I resold to my siblings and friends during soccer at 100% profit. I didn’t know it then, but that was the beginning of my journey into business leadership.
During class today, I showed the kids the HTML source code of a web page – all those scattered letters and symbols behind the scenes. They were amazed. They kept saying, “Sir, is this really what makes the page look so beautiful?”
I told them, “Look at this code carefully. Right now, it looks random to you, but it creates a perfect page when it’s put together properly. Your journal is like that source code. Each small entry you write may seem unimportant now, but it is building your life’s web page. What people will see – your confidence, your intelligence, your leadership – is the final beautiful page built from these hidden entries.”
Research in child development shows that reflective practices like journaling build metacognition – the ability to think about your own thinking. This is what differentiates leaders from followers. They don’t just react. They ponder, strategize, and grow intentionally.
Similarly, learning HTML nurtures structured thinking. It teaches kids to build logically, pay attention to details, and see how little pieces come together to create something meaningful. These are essential skills in leadership and entrepreneurship.
How are you teaching your children or students to lead themselves daily? What small habits today are building the future leader in you? If your life were a web page, what source code are you writing today?
Business leadership doesn’t start with titles or positions. It starts with how you lead yourself every single day. That’s what I want them to understand.
Where Learning Meets Leadership
At KidzHub English Nursery & Primary School, we don’t just teach English, Math, or Science – we teach life. Our innovative programs integrate technology skills like HTML with leadership, creativity, and emotional intelligence for holistic growth.
For children needing specialised support, Special Gems Special Needs Center offers inclusive education and therapy programs, helping every child shine confidently at their pace.
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