|
Categories - Copywriting - Shopping - Free Online Business Help - Telecommunications
Services
Articles: Parenting
- Getting Your Children Back to School
By Ron
Misener
The arrival of September and a new school year
looms. For some this is a much-anticipated event bursting with
excitement and bolstered by confidence. For others, there is
apprehension and even dread. Parents can help their children prepare
for school in several ways – while channeling their excitement or
quelling some nerves.
First, parents can assist kids by
creating a manageable schedule of extracurricular activities that
will allow sufficient time for homework and studying. The
out-of-school sports leagues, dance and music classes all start
taking registrations and it’s tempting to sign up for everything the
child is interested in – after all, won’t being active and busy keep
them out of trouble? There is definitely some truth to that,
however, a healthy balance must be maintained. Most students can
handle no more than two or three extra-curricular activities a week
while juggling curricular demands. Remember to schedule time for
homework and home study too! Primary students need 15 to 20 minutes
a night; intermediate students need about an hour. High school
students will likely have an hour or two a night.
Another
way parents can help their children prepare for school is to talk
with them about the importance of interacting appropriately with
their teachers and how to act in class. Role playing certain common
situations might help a student learn to deal with asking for extra
help, asking permission to use the restroom or tactfully make a
suggestion or contribute to a discussion. Although teachers do not
always ‘teach’ these skills directly, they may nonetheless expect
students to know them and may even draw conclusions about a
student’s demeanor and skills from the way they present themselves
in such situations. Let the kids in on the secrets of successful
in-class behaviors as well. These include sitting up and slightly
forward, ‘tracking’ the teacher as s/he moves in the classroom,
nodding to indicate listening and participating by either answering
or asking questions.
Finally, parents can help students set
up their study area in the home with the proper lighting and
supplies. The computer is best placed in a shared space – off the
kitchen for example so that whoever is preparing dinner can keep an
eye on internet surfing, help with keywords for searches and
generally monitor for safety. Basic supplies should include plenty
of pens and pencils, lined and unlined paper, construction/ colored
paper, markers, crayons, pencil crayons, a sharpener, corrector
fluid or tape, glue, tape, ruler, geometry set, dictionary/thesaurus
(or online), and perhaps a timer. The timer can be used to plan the
homework session so that each subject gets some time and variety
maintains interest and encourages more effective use of
time-on-task.
When the first day comes let them help prepare
a healthy lunch they will actually eat and send them off with a
reassuring hug. Ask specific questions when they come home – go
beyond – ‘How was your first day’ so that you get more than a one or
two word response. Ask what they’re excited about, what is worrying
them, what supplies they might need, who their teachers are and what
they remember about them. Back to school can be a positive time for
the entire family!
This article courtesy of http://www.university-phoenix.com
|
