10 Tips to get you child's mind back on track
As students begin their "Back to school" routine, their minds still traverse in a state of disarray, struggling to engage into the educational environment filled with academic expectations but still in the “summer mode”.
By week 3, I begin to see parents take drastic measures when the first series of performance assessments start rolling in. I’m embarrassed to say that I've see it all: parents begin by removing privileges, placing students on restriction, having students write essays on the effects of laziness and disrespect. Some of the funnier, and more unorthodox methods such as removing the child’s bedroom door or installing a series of video cameras in their room or website tracking software on their laptops either deters or exacerbates these behaviors otherwise known as “Delayed Academic Achievement Daze”.
The sad thing is, it doesn't have to be that way for many of our students. Here are 10 tips to get you students focused and “back in the game”:
10. Set a Routine
Some of the best parents that I have encountered keep check lists. Believe it or not, students crave check lists and want to feel accomplished when they come home. Before school starts, begin with a simple check list that will leave them feeling proud out loud!
Being Supermom or Superdad will make you SuperStressed. Give students a light load and focus on what is important. Allow them to ease into the school year with traditional activities that focus on duty before fun. Yes, encourage play outside, but make sure that you have enough time to get your academics in. If you put too much on their schedule, other activities like sports or recreation may overwhelm them and take away time from what they need to learn.
8. Remove Distractions
Television and video games are great (and a necessity in some households) however, these should be turned into privileges and not hindrances to what they need to do afterschool. Kids need to learn that leisure occurs after they have worked. (Yes, that means that video game time should be earned, not given). Think of it this way - your children do not see Daddy playing video games for two hours before he goes to work, right? As a family you should be committed to the routine of preparing for what activity/obligation is to come. Practicing the mindful art of preparation, centeredness and focus as they prepare for school week will help them enjoy their highly deserved fun-filled weekends (and not take you for granted).
You are in charge, and must learn how to delegate the responsibility of having your child learn how to think, act, and care for themselves. Your role is to serve as the best role model you can be and to encourage these behaviors from your children.
Do you remember how hard it was for your children to learn how to color within the lines? Well, their development is even harder to contain within the lines.
Regardless of what goals you set for your children (both stated and implied), it is vital that you celebrate those little milestones to help them understand their full potential. If it’s something as simple as saying, “I am so proud of you for starting your homework on time” or, “You are growing up to be such a responsible little man by putting your play clothes in the hamper”, those words will not fall into deaf ears for your children who love to please mommy and daddy.
5. Do Summer Learning - Student's who engage in academics over the summer are more likely to transition more easily into the school year. Plus, they won't have as much summer learning loss to contend with. (Learn More about Summer Learning)
Don’t bribe, threaten, or bully your kids when they don’t act in the way that you want them to behave. Serve as a testament for how you want them to live your life.
My mom would tell me little things that I remember to this day that I share with my clients. Whenever I went shopping and was in the dressing room and did not like the clothes that I picked up, my mother would always say, “Be a good citizen and put things back. Be respectful of the people and the world around you.” It sounds much better than, “You are a slob!” doesn’t it?
So, you want your children to be respectful children who will be model citizens in the community. If you do not know what types of shows they watch or the company that they keep, it will be hard to see where some of the negative behaviors they had picked up came from. If you do not have time to observe the quality programming that they are watching Monday - Friday (and if you think that all television shows that have children in them are wholesome, think again. These shows encourage intolerable behaviors that would constitute a one-way ticket to restriction prison). then maybe it would be prudent to give them only a half hour to watch while you are in close proximity. The same goes for play dates, sleep overs, and movie outings.
Ask if they understand what they have just completed and have them show you that it’s done - CORRECTLY. If my parents actually opened up my subtraction folder from 2nd grade, I think that they would have said that they brought home the wrong baby from the hospital (To this day, I only know subtraction through addition.. go figure!).
LASTLY...
1. Get yourself an educational manager, someone who can help you with the many aspects of learning both academic and intellectual.
Learning Ridge is one of the few companies who focus on a holistic approach focusing not only on the subject and grades but on the student as a whole.
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