Keys to Success
How can you keep your child from losing inertia or becoming unmotivated.
1) Monitor your child's school situation. If your child begins to falter, step in to help right away. Call the teacher (in the spirit of collaboration, not confrontation), work with your child yourself, or get outside help. Don't let the problem escalate. Nip it in the bud.
2)Help your child organize his/her time, school supplies, and work area. Whether your child is in kindergarten, high school, or anywhere between, he or she should have one place where he/she keeps school supplies, a place to work, and a time that is regularly devoted to homework. It is better to have a definite time and place, and then to make exceptions to the rule as the need arises, than to let your child work as the spirit moves him/her. In addition to organization this gives you leverage. If you make an exception and the homework is not done satisfactorily or is only done under duress, you can cite this as a reason for not making an exception in the future.
3) Help your child set priorities. Attending school and doing homework are priorities. Learning to set priorities so as to live up to ones responsibilities is one of the greatest lessons your child can ever learn. Don't make excuses, make solutions.
4) Help your child build a positive self image. You would be amazed at the difference a "can do" attitude can make. Help foster this attitude by offering your child support coupled with respect. Show him/her how to accomplish tasks independently rather than by doing it for your child and then affixing your child's name to it. If your child is having trouble with academics, then find help for him/her. Just don't let that blind you to all that is wonderful about your child. Your child is naturally endowed with special gifts. Key in to those gifts. Nurture them. Help them grow.
Copyright 2002 by Heidi Reichel
How can you keep your child from losing inertia or becoming unmotivated.
1) Monitor your child's school situation. If your child begins to falter, step in to help right away. Call the teacher (in the spirit of collaboration, not confrontation), work with your child yourself, or get outside help. Don't let the problem escalate. Nip it in the bud.
2)Help your child organize his/her time, school supplies, and work area. Whether your child is in kindergarten, high school, or anywhere between, he or she should have one place where he/she keeps school supplies, a place to work, and a time that is regularly devoted to homework. It is better to have a definite time and place, and then to make exceptions to the rule as the need arises, than to let your child work as the spirit moves him/her. In addition to organization this gives you leverage. If you make an exception and the homework is not done satisfactorily or is only done under duress, you can cite this as a reason for not making an exception in the future.
3) Help your child set priorities. Attending school and doing homework are priorities. Learning to set priorities so as to live up to ones responsibilities is one of the greatest lessons your child can ever learn. Don't make excuses, make solutions.
4) Help your child build a positive self image. You would be amazed at the difference a "can do" attitude can make. Help foster this attitude by offering your child support coupled with respect. Show him/her how to accomplish tasks independently rather than by doing it for your child and then affixing your child's name to it. If your child is having trouble with academics, then find help for him/her. Just don't let that blind you to all that is wonderful about your child. Your child is naturally endowed with special gifts. Key in to those gifts. Nurture them. Help them grow.
Copyright 2002 by Heidi Reichel
