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Step 1
Start from the premise that children are naturally curious, and, when younger, they haven't learned to have uninformed prejudices toward ideas and activities. They're quite open to just about anything that challenges their thinking and their way of seeing the world.
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Step 2
Play guitar yourself. If you do, then you can use the guitar any time you wish while at home with your child. This will encourage your child to see the playing of guitar as something normal and possible.
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Step 3
Sit with your child while listening to various kinds of music, from popular to classical, and talk--with obvious passion--about the instruments that you hear to get him interested. Point out where the guitar comes in and how it contributes to the whole of the musical piece.
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Step 4
Be open to taking your child to various concerts that come to and through your area and see if she's interested in going. Let her see how the various musicians use the guitar. Point out the plucking styles, the part that strumming plays and the use of standard chords and power chords.
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Step 5
Buy a guitar for your child. Let him know that it is okay for him to play as much as he wants, anywhere he wants. Fill him with the freedom to know that all his shaky, novice attempts will be met with approval as he builds his confidence and his surety.
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Step 6
Find someone who can give your child lessons. Let her learn a variety of standard chords and have her put them to use playing simple songs as soon as possible. The best way is to have her learn the chords while learning basic songs which use only three or four chords.
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Step 7
Play duets with your child. Playing together will increase your child's sense of accomplishment while forging a stronger bond between the two of you.
