As children start back to primary and elementary school, they may be wondering what lies ahead. Many parents have questions, too. Here are some ideas to ease children’s return to their classrooms, and to help keep the positive vibe going all year long.
- Plan for the basics. Make sure your child has what they need for school success: the necessary supplies, a quiet place for homework, good sleep habits, ample physical exercise, and nourishing food.
- Listen and be observant. Know what’s happening in your child’s life at home and at school. Listen carefully to their worries and concerns. Think about the highs, lows, and rollercoasters of previous years, and how they might have an impact this year.
- Nurture creativity. Foster your child’s curiosity. Encourage their imagination, support their critical thinking skills, and invite their creative expression across different areas of interest.
- Be reassuring. Provide the reassurance your child needs as the school year begins, as they encounter different academic challenges, and as they make new friends. Help your child learn to trust that they can work their way through tough times. (With your support, if required.)
- Make real-world connections. Your child will be more engaged in learning if they see the relevance of activities, tasks, and whatever else is being asked of them—that is, why it matters—for them, and others.
- Encourage exploration. Look together for ways to expand your child’s world, whether it’s sports, reading genres, cultural activities, second and third languages, museum trips, or something else. Encourage them to ask questions, and to find answers from various sources, including people, books, online, or elsewhere.
- Support good work habits. The beginning of the school year is a great time to focus on building a strong foundation for learning, including organizational and time management skills, effort, and persistence. (And of course, the best way to teach these habits is to model them yourself.)
- Make time for play. Unstructured playtime is when children consolidate what they’re learning and discover who they are and what interests them. Talk together about how to make sure there’s enough time for free play in your child’s schedule.
- Find a healthy balance. Kids need challenge, stimulation, and a broad range of physical activities and learning opportunities. They also need ample opportunities to reflect and to daydream, even if this means limiting their time with technology. (As it often does.)
- Advocate as needed. Thoughtful advocacy can go a long way toward facilitating positive learning at school. For practical advocacy steps, check out this blog: https://joannefoster.ca/effective-advocacy-what-do-parents-need-to-know/ Build bridges with your child’s school and teachers, so connecting will be as fruitful as possible, and educational experiences will match your child’s learning needs.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
This article is an updated version of the previously published article (August 2015 at Psychology Today online). We also address all these ideas in greater detail in our book Beyond Intelligence, Secrets for Raising Happily Productive Kids.
Dr. Dona Matthews’ articles are accessible on her website HERE, alongside information about her work and her books.
Dr. Joanne Foster invites you to visit her BLOG page and RESOURCES page for many pieces relating to learning and development, and more. To acquire information about her books, visit the BOOKS page on her website.
