Everyone always says that your child grows up right before your eyes and, before you know it, they’re all grown up, and you feel like you only blinked once. This may sound impossible, given that getting them grown-up involves going through the toddler tantrum phase, the teenage years, and everything in between.
Yet, before you can wipe the baby food from your face properly, they seem to have fast-forwarded through their young life and leave for college – this is why being present in each and every aspect of their lives is so crucial. When your child is young and steps into their new life of going to school, many things change, and it may be overwhelming to them even though it may not seem as such.
Your job, as a parent, is to ensure they reach all their milestones as seamlessly and effortlessly as possible. That said, here are some tips on how to be a supportive parent throughout your child’s earliest days in school and help them achieve success in even the smallest of feats.
Stay in the loop
You can’t help if you don’t know what’s going on, which is why it’s crucial to stay in the loop and keep yourself up to date with what your child is learning in school and where they’re at. You can start by asking your child each day when they get home from school how their day was, what they learned, and if they’re struggling with anything.
Also, asking the teacher every so often what they’re discussing in class and in which area your child may need assistance can put you one step ahead information-wise and make it much easier to help your little one.
Get creative
When your child is struggling with something in school, the best way to help them is by getting creative and thinking outside the box to help your child understand their work in a way that will stick. There are 6 fun letter-sound correspondence games for young readers who would like to be fluent in their reading and tons of fun and exciting educational games to play with other subjects.
You can also use visual aids, whether it be posters, cards, blocks, or anything that may paint a vivid picture of what you’re trying to communicate to your child. Going the extra mile may also help your child stay interested in their school work, especially when they find it challenging to keep their attention where it should be.
Motivate them
Every child needs a personal cheerleader to whisper words of encouragement when they need it; that’s you! Motivating them continuously, especially if they’re struggling with a particular subject or received some less than perfect results from a test, will renew their confidence and give them that extra push to try again. Children, just like any adult, need to hear some positive words now and again to remind them they can do whatever they set their mind to.
So, repeating the phrases “keep trying, you almost have it!” and “don’t give up!” will incentivize them to keep at it even though they might understand the work yet. You can also motivate your child to put some extra effort into their work by setting up a reward system – having something to work towards may make the workload more bearable and give them something to look forward to.
No judgment
Your child has stepped into a whole new phase in their life by going to school, and it’s much more stressful and intimidating than it may seem at first. Some children catch on very quickly, while others may need a little more time to warm up to the new environment they’re finding themselves in on a daily basis – offering a no-judgment zone at home may give them a little more comfort after a long day at school.
It may seem unnecessary at first, but offering acceptance instead of condemnation to a child who may not be excelling at school will help them much more open up and try harder. Offering support and any help they may need will soften the blow they’ve already felt by not performing as well as their peers and getting to the root of the problem much quicker. Odds are the cause of their struggle is much simpler than it looks like in the beginning, and they’ll be on their way to the top of the class in no time!
Your child is embarking on a twelve-year adventure by going to school for the first time, and you may find yourself filled with a mixed feeling of utter pride and sadness that they’re growing up so fast. By being there every step of the way and cheering them on while doing so, you’ll be watching your child flourish and enjoy every moment of it with them!
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