Learn
from the Pros
The best place to learn
about kids -- who don't come with instruction
manuals -- is from the professionals:
other parents who've been there and done that.
The internet is
a fabulous resource for parents to use to connect
with other parents with ideas, practical advice,
encouragement and help.
Regardless what age
your back-to-schooler is, there will be stresses
in his or her life. Maybe you
are the one going back to school!
One of the best
ways to combat the fears and concerns you or
your children may have is to start off the year
with a plan, and some ideas for handling problems.
The
Big Three
Three
areas that seem to snag parents over and over
are Organization, Homework, and Motivation.
A household that's perpetually buzzing with
alarm and last-minute crises can probably calm
down by following some organizational tips.
Homework can become a daily power struggle between
parents and children, or it can be a tool to
teach them responsibility and persistence.
And every child lags in motivation from time
to time. Spotting the problem and helping
your student overcome it in a timely manner
can make all the difference in the school year.
Organization
-- Routine is the key to many organizational
challenges. If every morning results in
gulped breakfast (or no breakfast at all) and
scrambling to find items needed for school that
day, you can help your children by setting up
a routine that covers all the necessary activities
of the school day morning. Select and
lay out clothes the night before. Pack
lunches and keep in the refrigerator, ready
for putting into backpacks on the way out the
door. Gather all materials and pack backpack
before bed.
Homework
is a priority. Ahead of
playing with friends, extracurricular activities,
or video games and computer time. Lay
down the rules early, and stick to them.
Set up a homework schedule with
your child, so that he or she has ownership
in the process and can build fun activities
into the schedule, too.
Motivation
flags when a student is bored, distracted, or
sometimes doesn't feel well or see/hear properly.
After you've checked out the obvious physical
problems, talk to your child about why school
seems "boring". Help him or her deal with
distractions -- social pressure, fear of underachieving,
not enough time to complete assignments.
Never be afraid to talk with the teacher, and
even spend time observing your child in class
if you can. Keep communication lines open
and work together to get your child over the
hump and back into gear again.
Connect
to other parents on ParentSoup.com on these
issues:
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