6 steps to learning success
Help your child with patience and encouragement
Backpacks are flying off the shelves and the back-toschool season is in full gear. And while kids and parents look to the year ahead, many wonder how to set themselves up for success. How can you ensure you’re providing the foundation your child needs to thrive this school year? Follow these six easy tips and see your child flourish.
Make homework stress-free
While parents of younger children are directly involved in home reading and other small school projects, once children reach middle school, a parent’s responsibility is simple — provide a quiet space to do homework and lots of encouragement.
Being nighttime teacher or the homework police interferes with a child’s capacity to self-motivate and take full ownership.
Instead, consider a homework contract.
Studies show that kids that participate in the creation of a homework contract are more successful during homework time overall. Include when, where and how homework will get done along with rules for technology use during that time.
Inspire perseverance
Hold back on giving your child all the answers when they’re struggling with a question.
Instead, give them room to explore the possibilities they see — no matter how ineffective or “wrong” these might seem to you.
Key to perseverance is seeing things in a new light — encourage your child to come up with alternative ways to solve a problem or to complete a task.
Studies show that the average adult thinks of no more than three or four options in a specific circumstance, while the average child can come up with 60. Taking time to think outside the box can help your child develop the new insights that make perseverance possible.
Listen carefully
If your child is resistant to going to school in the morning, seems isolated or is struggling to keep up with the work, listen carefully and address the problem early.
Sometimes a poor teacher-child fit, learning issue, over-scheduling or problem with another child at school may be at the core of the problem. Don’t hesitate to involve school staff early, make them aware of your concerns and come up with a support plan you can all follow.
Discover the sleep solution
Many parents are unaware of just how much sleep children and youth need.
Children up to the age of eight often need up to 12 hours of sleep a night and teens need eight to 10.
By ensuring your child is getting sufficient sleep you’re safeguarding their ability to learn and overall health.
If your child is facing sleep struggles, look into factors that may be interfering, like stress, using technology at night or a tight schedule.
Make a ‘PACT’
PACT stands for play (essential for almost every aspect of development), activity (the key to reducing stress and supporting brain functioning), connection (such as eating dinner together) and time in (quiet time without being plugged-in).
A balanced childhood relies on these essential activities, setting children up for mind-body health and a higher capacity for learning.
The self-care solution
Whether a child is struggling with difficulty focusing, sleep problems, stress, irritability, or any other roadblock, tools for self-care constitute the most powerful medicine there is.
Self-care looks different for everyone, so make a commitment to learn a host of self care skills: mindfulness meditation, yoga, progressive relaxation, imagery, walking outside, or simply taking a long deep breath together can all go a long way toward leaving kids and parents feeling calm and relaxed.
Six small steps can create large and long lasting results.