Kids Play Smarter is happy to introduce Tracey Clayton, a guest blogger and a mother of 3, so she knows quite a bit about kids and school. Here’s her tips on helping your child love school….
All parents come to a point when their kids have to start school. If you haven’t already enrolled them in a nursery or another kind of early years learning framework then the transition from home to the classroom can be a difficult one. There are lots of worries parents have about their children going to school, many of which are unfortunately out of their control. The least parents can do is ensure they have picked the best school possible for their child that gives them a the right evironment to learn in. My Top Schools help to make this is possible by giving impartial information and ratings. But parents should take comfort knowing that there are lots of things they can do to help their children enjoy learning as well. In preparation, it’s best to foster love for knowledge even before the kids get to be school age. With some simple yet effective nudging, it just may turn out that you won’t have to worry about your kids succeeding in school at all because they will be ready to learn on their own. If you’re looking to make some money back from school textbooks as they can become quite expensive for later education, look into ways of selling textbooks online.
Help Your Child Love School By Sparking an Interest in Learning
Learning isn’t limited to a classroom….. In fact, some of the most memorable learning will take place outside of the classroom. Remember that there are amazing learning opportunities all around us each day. Spend time outside, as nothing can beat the child’s curiosity towards the natural world. Go hiking, walking, exploring, and visit playgrounds and parks.
Undoubtedly, your child will ask some questions about their world, so make sure you engage in those conversations. Follow up with any unanswered questions by finding the answers in books or online. Talk about how almost every question has “answers” out there somewhere. Explain to your kids how school and education can point you in the right direction to find your “answers”, as this will actually encourage their love for school and studying in general. Children being in school is very important for their development educationally and personally. Centers such as the alexandria early learning centre based in Sydney can help children build on their learning and understanding from a young age, it is always best to find a center that works for you and your child.
Help Your Child Love School By Experimenting
Most kids find science and math to be the most difficult subjects in school. What’s more, they often find them boring. In that respect, try doing some exciting science experiments that may help them to understand science in a more meaningful light. There are numerous age-appropriate kids’ science projects that you can find online, thus showing them the fun side of the most difficult school subjects. With regards to math, numbers on paper don’t mean as much to young kids as real life examples (for instance counting their Shopkins or superheros). The tangible objects will help your child learn concepts like addition/ subtraction/ greater than/ less than better than pencil-paper tasks and will be much more fun too!
Help Your Child Love School with Fun Reading and Writing Activities
Given all of the tests mandated in many schools nowadays, school can be very intimidating and kids can feel like they are constantly being evaluated and judged. Unfortunately, the love of learning oftentimes gets lost in that testing shuffle. The curriculum often gets run through so quickly that kids often don’t even really learn the content. So, try some learning activities that are more fun and feel less competitive but still can teach the content. These are some great ideas like the X-Ray Man, Sensory Sentence Boxes, Water Balloon Learning Games, and Spray Bottle Learning Games that make reading and writing more fun.
Help Your Kids Love School by Encouraging Social Skills
One of the most enjoyable aspects of school is spending time with your peers and making friends. If you notice that your kids are generally shy towards others, visiting playgrounds and organizing play dates could be very beneficial. Also, try using social stories with them before they start school. Social stories are like a “game plan” of sorts that helps your child to prepare himself for the new situations he will undoubtedly find himself in at school. They can help relieve some anxiety and fear of the unknown before starting school. Find out how to make your own social stories to fit your child’s school situation here.
Help Your Child Love School by Nurturing Their Creativity
No child will be able to enjoy school if they are constantly reprimanded for their own interests. Some kids might prefer subjects that allow them to express themselves creatively. In that respect, try not to limit their interests even if you believe that they need to spend the same amount of time on other subjects. Instead, get them involved in extracurricular activities that they are interested in to give them a creative outlet.
Help Your Child Love School By Being Positive
Everyone is allowed to make mistakes. Therefore, if it happens that your child has trouble with certain subjects, there’s no need to get angry. Nothing can be accomplished by yelling. Instead, make sure to always use positive encouragement so that your child can willingly try harder for their own sake. If you feel like your child is frequently worried, anxious, or depressed with their abilities even with positive encouragement, it may be beneficial to seek professional therapy services to improve their self-esteem and confidence. Find a therapist nearest to you here.
About author:
Tracey Clayton is a full time mom of three girls. She feels she knows a thing or two about raising happy, healthy and confident kids, and offers helpful advice in her parenting articles. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live.”