Their Children Learn and Grow

Benjie H. Bolos

While parents are often very distracted with work and family commitments, there are several things they can do to help their school-aged children learn and grow. Parents should use their time well, such as planning schedules, doing a few things at a time, making everyday tasks a time for learning, and finding others to support.

1.Choose a convenient and relaxed time for you and your children. It might have been a Saturday afternoon. Let them come to your office to pick you up, and then you can walk through the mall for a snack.

2.You and your husband split up taking the children – your husband takes your son; you take the daughters. At other times, you take your son, your husband takes your daughters.

3.The importance of being alone with a child is that you both get closer to each other. It's also said that every child wants to be an "only child" once in a while. It's a rare treat to get you alone without any distraction from your siblings.

4.Activities do not need to be restricted to shopping malls and food. Take children to museums, galleries, parks, bookstores, and the zoo. Take a picnic basket or go to the beach. Pick the shells, the rocks, the pebbles, the leaves. Mark them and start gathering them.

5.Flying kites is another really fascinating thing. Go to a park or open space. 6.Spend the afternoon in the kitchen working out a recipe for cookies.

7.Play outdoor sports, such as badminton, basketball, baseball. Go skating, riding, hiking, jogging and swimming.

8.Play card games.

9.Do jigsaw puzzles.

Parents can remain engaged with their child's school by doing little activities that fit into the school, using the services provided by the school, and asking for support from the school. Parents should think about what's best for them and use the available tools if they need support, such as a family resource center or a parent education program.

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The author is Teacher III at San Isidro Elementary School, Tarlac City