Helping Your Child Have a Great School Year
Posted: December 28, 2019
In addition to being a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor, I am also an Elementary School Counselor. Working with our youngest school-aged children, I see daily how hard they work to learn not only academics but also, how to interact in the world. What a big, new, and amazing world this is to them. Imagine having only been in this world for such a short time. It’s a big job for a little child. We, as parents, can certainly be the most powerful support in helping our children maneuver through this special time in their young lives. Here are some ways we can support and encourage them.
Smile
Your first after school interaction with your child should be a welcoming and accepting one. Be ready to smile and give attention when you see your child after school. You have both had a long day. Daily activities can be hectic. They can really wear you out, but be sure to you “keep enough in the tank” for your family when you get home. In other words, no matter how strenuous your day was, try to have enough energy, time, and attention to give to your child after a long day. Time is really one of our most valuable resources and our children crave it from us. It is so nice to be welcomed home by a loving face.
I have heard the analogy describing children as dump trucks. All-day they collect dirt, rocks, and whatever else comes along. Eventually, they are full and have to dump it out somewhere. Be the place they go to dump, listen to every word, because amongst all the chatter and rubble they are dumping, you will also find some bright and shiny diamonds.
Decide to avoid letting the first thing you ask your child be what color they were on (if their teacher uses a color behavior chart), or if they got in trouble today. Instead, try asking:
“What was the best part of your day?”
“Was there anything difficult, hard, or challenging about your day?”
“Who did you play with today?”
“What did you read about today?”
Or,
“Was there anything funny that happened today?”
What if he or she did not have a good day at school?
If your child did happen to have had a difficult day at school, it is important to remember three things.
1. First, in most cases, you and the teacher have the same goal for your child to be successful at school. The teacher is usually trying their best to support your child. For the sake of your child, be respectful when talking about the situation. Keep an open line of communication with the teacher. Working together with the teacher as part of a team with common expectations will help your child to feel safe at school and at home.
2. Remember, school is really hard work. Instead of getting angry about your child’s behavior, help him or her find ways to handle frustrating situations in a constructive manner. Discuss the situation. Brainstorm other ways to handle the situation. Let them know you care about them and their day to day lives.
3. Third, don’t blame yourself or get angry with yourself either. New situations arise every day. The time and attention you invest in listening to and working with your child will certainly be worth the effort as your child grows and learns how to effectively make others aware of their needs, and to interact appropriately with their peers and teachers.
4. Fourthly, I know I said three things to remember, but it is also important to remember that tomorrow is a new day and we have a “New Hope”. We get a chance to try to do better every day we are given.
Written by: Debbie Hundley, LPC, NCC