What Can Parents Do?
Preparing their Children for the Beginning of a Ne
What can parents do to prepare their children for the beginning of a new school year? A new year and a new beginning are times of great anticipation and excitement which can also be times of great anxiety and
confusion. What a parent does before classes begin largely determine whether or not the child will feel ready and comfortable with each new experience. Children are similar to us, if they can anticipate some of the things that could happen in their life they feel more capable and better able to handle the situation.
Noah didn’t begin building the ark when it was raining!
For 5 year olds beginning school can be a traumatic experience! Practice leaving your children at safe locations with grandparents, church, and day care locations letting them know when you will return and where you will be. Always be on time or notify the school office in the event you are detained. Build a “you can count on me” relationship that will transfer to the child as a result of your modeling. With older children make sure you are an involved and knowledgeable parent.
The most involved parent volunteer is the most knowledgeable parent.
What are the main messages to strengthen your children for a new school experience?
Let your children know they are capable and they can handle the new challenges that face them. When you express words of encouragement and belief you strengthen your children and yourself. Offer a prayer, hug, or it’s going to be a great year one day at a time as they begin the new year. When things get difficult offer them this power building comment, “I can handle this and a whole lot more!” When another child demeans them teach them the importance of rehearsing in their own mind ” no matter what you say or do to me I am a valuable and worthwhile person” When they encounter difficult circumstances prepare them with we are not made from our circumstances we are revealed by them. When they start developing a poor
attitude help them see “We deserve what our attitudes produce”.
How can we avoid the pain and confusion of the requirements of Homework?
Very few parents escape the frustration of homework. The problem teachers face are parents requesting a lot of homework while others want little or none. A parent can reduce the amount of frustrations by Setting up a quiet attractive place and time for family study periods. This means parents will need to set the example. Listed below are seven tips for developing positive homework habits.
1. Begin by scheduling TV viewing for limited times during the week. Many families are turning the TV off from Monday through Thursday.
2. Avoid asking your children ” Do you have any Homework?” School personnel are not the only individuals who can assign learning experiences.
3. Children need “calm classical moments” to think, read. create, write, listen and learn. Whether the school assigns homework or not, your family can participate in family games and learning experiences together. Some families have even set aside special nights to have fun together.
4. As children move through the grades I recommend that children identify other “student mentors” they can call regarding homework updates and clarification.
5. Consider having your child(ren) place their homework in a certain place every night so parents can review their childs performance.
6. Most children get better results from brief periods of work and several intermissions.
7. You can chart your childs weekly homework by giving points for beginning on time, working steadily, and completed work. Since beginning on time is often a struggle from some children you can give more points for punctuality. If Your child has difficulty staying on task, you can assign more points in area of working steadily.
What kind of a parent do I want my children to remember?
Families that take time to look in on themselves are more effective families. Consider taking a parent inventory of what you like best about yourself and your parenting. You can ask questions like What do I want my kids to remember about me? What are my strengths and assets? Do my children know that I love them? Remember children will remember and evaluate you based upon what they observe in your daily behavior not what you say. Most behavior is either an expression of love or a call for love.
What can parents do that will assure their child’s success in school.
10 Ideas that contribute to your childs success in school.
1.Take an active role in your childs classroom and demonstrate support for your childs teacher.
2. Write positive and supportive notes to your childs principal and teacher.
3. Contribute your time and energy toward finding, creating, and implementing fund raising projects to make sure your teacher has the resources to carry out their plans.
4. Become one of the major players in Your schools Parent Teacher Organization .
5. Always demonstrate consideration and high regard for your childs teacher.
6. If you have a problem, talk with the principal about the best way to resolve the problem. Remember problems are simply questions that need to be solved.
7. If teacher reports behavior that’s different or unique from behavior you have witnessed at home , remain open and committed toward working with school personnel to resolve the problem. While you expect and want your children to model your values and beliefs they often fall short of your expectations in different group settings.
8. Invest in technology
9. Demonstrate interest in your childs questions and investigations by challenging them to identify how they arrive at decisions and solve problems.
10.Value Learning by becoming a lifelong learner with your child.
11.Have your kids memorize the Daily Learning Pledge!
Gene Bedley, PTA National Educator of the year