Help your Child love School
It‘s September. Kids are back to school. Some of them are happy; some of them not so much. So how can we ensure that children’s love for school stays with them, as they adjust to different classes, new teachers, new friends, year by year? The key – say educators and parents who’ve been there, and also according to Nana Silver, the author of Rules for Parents – is for the parents to stay involved their children’s school life, but not focusing on academics (yet).
“There’s a wide range of readiness among young children for reading, writing, and adding. These skills will come in time. Meanwhile, our job is to help our kids view school as a happy place to be”, says Silver.
For some children, a positive attitude about school may require coaxing, since school presents a lot of new challenges: being away from Mom, making new friends, taking turns, etc. Here are few tips on how to help your child meet those challenges:
Be Punctual
It’s not always easy to get anywhere on time with little kids, but it’s worth making an extra effort to be prompt on school days. “A child may feel like an outsider if the others are already there, engaged in activities,” says Marilyn Gootman, author of The Loving Parent’s Guide to Discipline.
Know When it’s time to Go
A main part of the “curriculum” for children starting school is learning to feel secure in the classroom, even though they’re away from Mom, Dad and home. Parents can help by trying to keep their own anxiety in check, as a child’s fear is often fueled by his parents’ anxiety. If you seem worried, he may decide school isn’t a safe or nice place to be.
Team Up with the Teacher
Teachers feel positive when they see that a parent cares, is interested and genuine concerned about the class’ success. They also find it very helpful when parents alert them to any information they have about how children are feeling at school as it keeps the them in the loop.
Be Mindful of After School Activities
Half a day of school can be stimulation enough for a child. Exhausted, stressed-out kids have a harder time adjusting to school. So be mindful when sign up your child for any extra activities, unless she’s wildly enthusiastic and begging to go.
More Ways to Help your Child
Let your child know what his schedule will be like. Tell him what time school begins and ends each day.
Ask your child about her feelings – both the excitement and the concerns – about school.
Visit the school with your child to see his new classroom and meet his new teacher before school officially starts.
Point out the positive aspects of starting school again. It will be fun and she can make new friends.
Let your child know that all kids are nervous about the getting back to school.
Leave a note in your child’s lunchbox that will remind him you’re thinking of him while he’s at school.
Reassure your child that if any problems arise at school, you will be there to help resolve them.
Try to have your child meet a classmate before the first day of school so she will already have a friend when school starts.
Arrange for your child to walk to school or ride together on the bus with another kid in the neighborhood.
Find out about after-school activities that your child can join, keeping in mind their own will and energy levels after school.
