Whether you are sending your child off to preschool, middle school, high school or college, a new school year has begun. While some children love school and anticipate the first day with excitement, others groan when they think about school. For me, I looked forward to starting school, and especially loved the day I went shopping for new clothes and school supplies with my mom.
In our family, education is important to us. We work hard to instill good success habits, and with these ideas, you and your children can enjoy a successful school year too.
Establish Routines for Morning, After School and Bedtime
When my oldest son Kai was growing up, he was diagnosed with ADHD. It was then that I learned about how important routines were in a child's life. Children thrive on consistency and structure, and routines provide that repetition and instill good habits. Make up sheets of paper that list every step your child should take before school, after school and before he goes to bed. Be specific and practice these routines until they become natural and habitual.
Teach Your Children How to Set Goals
Once your children are old enough, give them a beginners course in setting goals for themselves. Keep it simple with children under age 12. Ask them to set one academic goal and one behavioral goal. For instance, I will work to get a B in Math this year or I will read 15 minutes every day. Good behavioral goals can focus on respecting other people, increasing confidence, or being more helpful. As your child gets older, he or she can learn to set larger goals that require more action steps, or increase the number of goals. Help your children create a colorful goals sheet or vision board as a reminder of what they are working on.
Communication is Essential
Parents that are involved with their child's education by keeping the lines of communication open help their child be more successful. Talk to the teachers regularly and make sure you are available to talk with your child. When a child is struggling in school, working together with the teachers can help you be a team in shaping your child's character in and out of school. While some children start talking the moment they walk in the door, others internalize what is going on at school. Ask open ended questions that encourage your child to talk, and listen without judgment to what is on their heart and mind. Bedtime and playtime are great times to get children to open up.
Focus on Your Child's Interests and Talents
Every child is special and different. Some children seem to be born natural athletes, while other children have natural intelligence, humor, or artistic abilities. How do you know what your child enjoys? Pay attention to what gives your child energy and what activities she naturally gravitates towards. Help your child identify what he is good at rather than always focusing on where he needs work. There is enough competition and comparisons going on in schools today. Children should be encouraged to compete with their personal best rather than comparing themselves to other children. Instead of worrying about what Johnny got on his spelling test, teach your child to try and beat his last spelling test score.
Minimize Your Childs Stressors
Stress, believe it or not, affects a child's life as well as our own. While child stress is different than adult stress, children have their own set of pressures to deal with. Peers pressure them, teachers sometimes have high expectations, and kids are continually faced with trying new things. Stress for a child can be expressed through misbehavior, irritability or increased sensitivity. If your child is experiencing stress, incorporate stress management techniques to help them cope. Help them learn to have flexible thoughts, stand up to bullies, or manage perfectionism and procrastination. Try not to overbook the family calendar with too many extracurricular activities. Make healthy eating, exercise and proper sleep important goals for all family members.
Success in school is a building block to success later in life. Using these tips will help you and your child create and celebrate a successful school year.
In our family, education is important to us. We work hard to instill good success habits, and with these ideas, you and your children can enjoy a successful school year too.
Establish Routines for Morning, After School and Bedtime
When my oldest son Kai was growing up, he was diagnosed with ADHD. It was then that I learned about how important routines were in a child's life. Children thrive on consistency and structure, and routines provide that repetition and instill good habits. Make up sheets of paper that list every step your child should take before school, after school and before he goes to bed. Be specific and practice these routines until they become natural and habitual.
Teach Your Children How to Set Goals
Once your children are old enough, give them a beginners course in setting goals for themselves. Keep it simple with children under age 12. Ask them to set one academic goal and one behavioral goal. For instance, I will work to get a B in Math this year or I will read 15 minutes every day. Good behavioral goals can focus on respecting other people, increasing confidence, or being more helpful. As your child gets older, he or she can learn to set larger goals that require more action steps, or increase the number of goals. Help your children create a colorful goals sheet or vision board as a reminder of what they are working on.
Communication is Essential
Parents that are involved with their child's education by keeping the lines of communication open help their child be more successful. Talk to the teachers regularly and make sure you are available to talk with your child. When a child is struggling in school, working together with the teachers can help you be a team in shaping your child's character in and out of school. While some children start talking the moment they walk in the door, others internalize what is going on at school. Ask open ended questions that encourage your child to talk, and listen without judgment to what is on their heart and mind. Bedtime and playtime are great times to get children to open up.
Focus on Your Child's Interests and Talents
Every child is special and different. Some children seem to be born natural athletes, while other children have natural intelligence, humor, or artistic abilities. How do you know what your child enjoys? Pay attention to what gives your child energy and what activities she naturally gravitates towards. Help your child identify what he is good at rather than always focusing on where he needs work. There is enough competition and comparisons going on in schools today. Children should be encouraged to compete with their personal best rather than comparing themselves to other children. Instead of worrying about what Johnny got on his spelling test, teach your child to try and beat his last spelling test score.
Minimize Your Childs Stressors
Stress, believe it or not, affects a child's life as well as our own. While child stress is different than adult stress, children have their own set of pressures to deal with. Peers pressure them, teachers sometimes have high expectations, and kids are continually faced with trying new things. Stress for a child can be expressed through misbehavior, irritability or increased sensitivity. If your child is experiencing stress, incorporate stress management techniques to help them cope. Help them learn to have flexible thoughts, stand up to bullies, or manage perfectionism and procrastination. Try not to overbook the family calendar with too many extracurricular activities. Make healthy eating, exercise and proper sleep important goals for all family members.
Success in school is a building block to success later in life. Using these tips will help you and your child create and celebrate a successful school year.
About the Author:
Lori Radun is a mom coach, inspirational speaker and author of The Momnificent! Life ~ Healthy and Balanced Life For Busy Moms. As a motherhood guru committed to helping moms live magnificent lives, see why moms are visiting Momnificent for the free Momnificent! newsletter, a library of expert advice, and continuously updated blog of mom-worthy news and developments.
0 comments:
Post a Comment