How to Mentally Prepare Your Child for a New School Year
As a parent, have you ever thought about how you can mentally prepare your child for a new school year? What does mental preparation have to do with anything? You say. Well, you are in for a long ride. I recall as kids, many of us were happy to begin the new school year, primarily because we were tired of being at home all summer and we missed our school friends who lived in various states and longed to see them again. However, the situation has changed in recent years since children now have access to a wide range of modern technology that keeps them busy. They frequently opt to continue watching YouTube cartoons or playing video games with no regard for anything else. As a result, instilling a back-to-school mindset in them is difficult since they are disinterested. This article has been written to help parents and guardians learn the different tips needed to prepare their children mentally for a new school year. READ: How To Prepare Your Child For the New School Year How to Mentally Prepare Your Child for a New School Year 1, Entice them with optimistic thoughts Preparing your child mentally for the new school year begins with instilling in them positive thoughts. You have to encourage them to be enthusiastic about the upcoming academic year and to appreciate the perks of the situation. Practise daily affirmations with them so they’re excited to start school again. 2, Get them organised early As a parent, you must do your part to prepare your child mentally for school. This implies you need to get organised with everything related to their school activities and needs. Do not begin arranging your children’s back to school necessities a week in advance; this is not acceptable. Instead, prepare, implement your plans, and get everything they’ll need two weeks before or during the holiday. You may also use parent assistance services such as ParentaPal to help you arrange a good schedule for the school year. 3, Practice self-care Beloved parent, this one’s for you. The fact is, if you’re not psychologically on board, you can’t prepare your child mentally. Therefore, you need to let go of your stress and take care of yourself. Get a babysitter or whatever else you need to do for your child, then take a break from work and unwind. Plus, you can practise wellness by doing things like; Meditation Reading Listening to music Visit the cinema/movie nights Exercise & Yoga READ: Things You Need to Know When Choosing a School for Your Child How Do I Prepare My Nervous Child for School? 1, Reduce their anxiety by carrying out a recce. This implies that you would go to the school a few times before the start of classes to allow your child to explore the hallways, locate their classroom, and, if it’s feasible, have a meeting with their teacher. They will have an opportunity to become accustomed to the routine through repetition especially if they are new to kindergarten or pre-kindergarten. 2, Continue to interact with your child after the initial resumption day. You must always enquire about their time at school after the first day, and establish a channel of communication with your child. It is even more important you do this if this is the child’s first day and first time in a formal school wall. READ: The Do’s and Don’ts Of After School Tutoring Conclusion When you set your mind to it, it is simple to get your child or ward mentally set up for the start of school. This article has thrown light on certain issues that many parents disregard. Furthermore, it emphasises the importance of parents’ being psychologically right to do the same for their children. Finally, you must instill solid communication skills and understand how to keep your kids excited about starting school. As children return to school, we hope this piece has helped you greatly in getting them in the right state of mind. Thank you for reading!
The Different Styles of Tutoring: A Must Read
Since every child is distinct and has an individual style of learning, the different styles of tutoring must be introduced and known to all parents. In this article, I highlight the different styles of tutoring with a focus on the most prominent styles used by teachers in recent times. Read this to the conclusion to get great insights on the styles that should be adopted for your child. What is a tutoring style? A tutoring style is defined as an educator’s approach to carrying out a lesson with a student or pupil. It is a method that is used by a teacher to ensure that every student digests what they are being taught. READ: The Do’s and Don’ts Of After School Tutoring The Different Styles of Tutoring 1, Visual tutoring Visual learning is a type of learning style in which students prefer to use images, graphics, colors, and maps to communicate ideas and thoughts. Therefore, to determine whether your student is a visual learner, you can ask them simple questions like whether they prefer movies or books. If they are a visual learner, they’ll choose movies. 2, Auditory tutoring Auditory learning means that a student learns most effectively by listening. They would prefer listening to a lecture over reading a textbook. As a result, auditory learners require aural input to make meaning of words, which is why they struggle with non-auditory tasks such as reading and writing. Furthermore, they enjoy listening to music, reading to themselves aloud, and asking a lot of questions to help them express their ideas. 3, Logical tutoring This is a method by which tutors teach the child using order, steps, and logic. They are also quite good at mathematics. Logical learners respond best to activities that require problem-solving and inference. As a result, they are adept at spotting discernible trends and patterns in what they learn and may easily form conclusions using facts. READ: Is Homeschooling a Viable Option in Africa? 4, Physical tutoring The physical learning style is characterized by utilizing the body and sense of touch to understand the world around us. Physical learners are also known as kinesthetic learners. They are almost as common as visual learners, and these students learn best via a hands-on approach. You can identify a physical learner by a restless demeanour, excellent body control, good spatial awareness, and good hand-eye coordination. 5, Social tutoring This is a process by which a child acquires knowledge and skills through social interactions. What this means is that for the child to learn fast, the tutor needs to create an environment where there is interaction with other children. Humans have a strong tendency to imitate each other, and some children seem to learn better in situations where there is plenty of human interaction. This is what is known as social learning, otherwise known as interpersonal learning. Therefore, if you’re tutoring a group of students, role-playing and group activities might help the social learners in the group. For other useful strategies to apply with your students, check out this resource for interpersonal learning. 6, Solitary Learning Solitary learning is the opposite of social learning. Solitary learners can be thought of as the “introverts” of the educational world — they prefer to learn alone. As a result, these type of children don’t adjust well to online learning environments, which are often collaborative. A student is likely seeking one-to-one tuition with you because they’re unable to learn well in a shared space i.e. classroom. These pupils are highly self-motivated to complete assignments on their own. READ: Handwriting and Typewriting: Its Importance for Children How many different styles of learning are there? The most common tutoring styles used are predominantly Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic/Physical. These are the commonly used techniques by tutors. Conclusion When getting a tutor for your child, as a parent, you must endeavor to ask the teachers questions as doing this helps you understand if the person is a professional and can adequately cater to your child’s needs. Furthermore, you will gain a thorough comprehension of your child’s interests and how they assimilate their schoolwork and other activities in real-time. As a result, while looking for tutoring services, look for companies with a proven track record. Research properly on companies that have the necessary facilities at comprehending a child’s neurology and learning patterns. Finally, with ParentalPal, you get the best tutors to groom your child. Thank you for reading!
The Effects of Gentle Parenting
As a parent, you must have heard of the parenting style called gentle parenting. However, do you understand its effects and what it means to praticise this kind of parenting style? Can you consciously affirm that you have been practising gentle parenting? Moreso, understanding the effects that come with embracing this parenting style in your household? Follow this article till the end to learn the effects of the gentle parenting style and how it will impact your life as a parent in raising your child right. READ: The Different Stages of the Human Brain Development Meaning of Gentle Parenting Gentle parenting is a parenting style that emphasises connection, empathy, respect, validation, and constructive discipline. It emphasises the need to create a safe, nurturing atmosphere that supports the emotional needs of children while also setting clear and consistent boundaries. Effects of Gentle Parenting It builds empathy and validation As a parent, when talking to your kids, it’s important to acknowledge their feelings, including the negative ones. According to a publication by Bowlby (1982) and Sanders & Mazzuchelli (2017), doing this helps them feel understood and supported, and nurtures a secure attachment bond. It reinforces positive discipline Gentle parenting uses positive discipline techniques that emphasize encouragement, problem-solving, positive reinforcement, and teaching children valuable life skills (Nelsen, 2012; Eanes, 2012). This approach is opposed to inflicting pain and leaving negative impressions on children’s minds, which can lead to increased frustration, sadness, and guilt. It creates clear boundaries with choices Gentle parenting does not imply permissiveness. Thus, it entails establishing clear and consistent boundaries while providing children with age-appropriate options within those constraints. This promotes autonomy and teaches kids to make appropriate decisions (Grady, 2019). It builds strong bonds and connection Gentle parenting is founded on developing a solid and healthy relationship with our kids. Therefore, open communication, trust, and a secure space are all facilitated by this connection, which gives kids the confidence to communicate their ideas and feelings without fear of being prejudged (Siegel & Bryson, 2011; Sanvictores & Mendez, 2022). Why it is hard for you to adopt gentle parenting In actuality, this parenting approach requires a great deal of patience on the side of the parent. One of the unique challenges it presents is accepting, that your reality differs from that of your child’s. Therefore, you are looking to rewire how you think about raising your kids, and the way you handle conflict and expectations – which is a very tough task for many parents to do. Law 101 of gentle parenting is to unlearn and relearn! Or, catch yourself before you act! This is because this parenting style requires you to be actively involved in assisting your child in questioning, analysing, and processing their behaviour. You do this rather than taking over for them or attempting to force them to embrace the parenting style you grew up with. READ: Handwriting and Typewriting: Its Importance for Children Conclusion To successfully embrace gentle parenting, you must be willing to unlearn a lot of behaviour and establish acceptable boundaries with your children. Therefore, recognising the triggers that set off your child’s negative behaviour is critical in this parenting style. Consequently, we recommend that all parents learn to be patient when dealing with their children. If you are having difficulty implementing this parenting style in your household, you can seek guidance from child support companies like ParentalPal. Thank you for reading!
Should Children Be Taught Life Skills? Yes or No
Do you think children should be empowered with life skills? Our generic answer will be Yes, they should. And you are correct. This is because life skills must be instilled in kids from an early age as they will contribute to their overall success and personal development. Thus, ensuring your child is ready for the future is extremely important as it will help them develop excellent communication skills and understand interpersonal interactions, teamwork, and problem-solving outside of the classroom. The most important life lessons should be taught to children gradually, which is why this article has been tailored just for parents and dummies. To find out more about the significance of instilling life skills in kids, read through to the end. READ: What Should Children Do During the Summer Holiday? Learning or Fun What Are Life Skills? According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), life skills encompass psychosocial and interpersonal competencies that enable individuals to make informed decisions, solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, empathise with others, and manage their lives healthily and productively. Life skills can be used for personal or social acts, as well as environmental changes that promote health. Why should children be taught life skill sets? Building a strong foundation: A solid foundational background helps children academically by boosting their capacity to learn and retain information while also preparing them for future job success. Employers are increasingly searching for life skills, and having a diversified skill set gives them a competitive advantage. Promoting responsible citizenship: Life skills extend beyond academics. They help children become well-rounded persons with a strong sense of self-awareness. By developing emotional intelligence, decision-making skills, and healthy habits, students will be better able to contribute effectively to their communities. Additionally, it will also help them emerge as strong global citizens who understand and value variety. READ: 4 Activities to Keep Your Children Occupied This Summer Holiday Future readiness: In this day and age, adaptability is essential. Communication, cooperation, and problem-solving abilities are essential for dealing with issues at school and beyond. Become independent thinkers: Teaching life skills to children empowers them to think independently. They get the confidence to communicate clearly and concisely. Partnership and Teamwork: In today’s interconnected culture, children will be well-prepared for cooperation in school and the workplace if they learn to team up, connect, and resolve conflicts. Problem-solving mindset: Developing a problem-solving attitude prepares children to face challenges with resilience and ingenuity. Conclusion Children benefit greatly from incorporating actual life skill set into their curriculum of study. Therefore, acquiring knowledge in financial literacy, communication, and critical thinking help children prepare for issues they may face in the real world. Consequently, prioritising problem-solving and interpersonal skills improves students’ academic achievement and equips them for success outside of the classroom. Education in life skills goes beyond academics; it develops compassion, perseverance, and agility, creating well-rounded people who can succeed in a variety of situations. Finally, the emphasis on life skills in school benefits a student’s entire development and future success. Thank you for reading!
Handwriting and Typewriting: Its Importance for Children
Handwriting and typewriting, are important for a child’s learning and development. How do they correlate to the growth of a child? Let’s find out. Recently, child guardians have failed to provide the necessary monitoring and patience to teach children proper typing posture and finger placement/movement. Children are taught at a young age to build their physical and mental muscles through a variety of activities. The results of these exercises assist the child to develop the capacity for the next level of performance. Handwriting is one of the accomplishments that children strive for as they develop their fine motor skills, and having strong handwriting is extremely beneficial to children for a variety of reasons. Read this article to the conclusion to learn the importance of handwriting and typewriting for children. Benefits of proper handwriting for children Development of eye, mind, and hand coordination The process of forming letters correctly and consistently by a child involves seeing a picture of the desired letter and trying to replicate that letter in the nicest possible way. You find children writing, and erasing letters or words to correct by themselves only because the letters written did not come out well or the letters of the word, as we say, are not sitting nicely on the line. Children begin to create mental images (in the mind) of how they want their words to look, they coordinate their hands to form what’s in their mind and their eyes vet the outcome. Developing coordination of these senses by age 5-6 is paramount and beneficial for use in other aspects of life. Development of independence in achieving tasks Teachers and parents have so much to teach children. 99% of the time, the children must have the opportunity to execute/practice on their own. This gives them a sense of independence and the fortitude that they can go at it alone. Development of coordination between thought and expression Children are advised to process their thoughts mentally or out loud before they express them in writing. This is not always the case especially as they begin to experience speed drills in school and among friends. Writing by hand slows them down just enough to achieve clarity and accuracy while expressing their ideas in the expected time frame. READ: The Different Stages of the Human Brain Development Development of functional brain activities Research carried out by Karin H. James, and Laura Engelhard showed evidence of brain development during handwriting vs typewriting. In the research, “preliterate, five-year-old children printed, typed, or traced letters and shapes, then were shown images of these stimuli while undergoing functional MRI scanning. Therefore, these findings demonstrate that handwriting is important for the early recruitment in letter processing of brain regions known to underlie successful reading. Development of cognitive processes It also helps a child’s memory retention, comprehension, and information processing. Definition of their personality With practice corrections and tweaks during handwriting activities, children build a sense of self through mental notes of how their writing comes out, what they like about it, and what they’d like to change. Over time, they see that they cannot help further changes and they stick to the latest result. Typewriting for children With innovation and future workplace readiness in mind, typewriting has become an increasingly in-demand need and gaining priority in conversations as a skill that children need to learn earlier than later in schools and homes. As important as this skill is for older children, we passively direct the children at it without getting them to learn the discipline that it promotes, as listed below Right body posture. Mental speed that comes with correct use of finger placement. Multitasking – their ability to read type and correct all at the same time. Boost of confidence in the use of digital tools and technology. Preparing children for higher efficiency in future work life. Efficiency in digital communication. Learning lifelong skills. READ: Things You Need to Know When Choosing a School for Your Child Conclusion In light of this and the future that you are preparing the kids for, parents and educators need to make a deliberate effort to guarantee a smooth transition from teaching handwriting to teaching typewriting. This can be executed in a smooth manner as an expectation for a specific age or as a promotion of study spaces where students switch from pencil to pen to devices for taking notes. Thank you for reading!
4 Activities to Keep Your Children Occupied This Summer Holiday
Have you been fretting over the activities that will keep the children engaged this summer holiday? Are your concerns linked to what your children will be up to throughout the summer? Do not be worried as there are ways to guarantee that you have some alone time as a parent while also caring for the kids throughout the long-term break. Read this post until the conclusion to learn the type of activities that can keep the children occupied during the summer holiday. READ: How to Plan the Best Summer Holiday Experience for Your Child 1. Holiday extra lessons and tutorial With extra tutorials and personalised coaching from expert teachers, children can spend the summer holiday learning and gaining more insight into their subjects. They can use this avenue to learn new topics for the upcoming school session so that they are better prepared. Doing this will boost their confidence and learning capacity to ace all their school work. 2. Camping and outdoor activities Children activities for the summer holidays wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of fun. The children ought to spend as much time outdoors as they do indoors. Therefore, you should enlist them for camping excursions and outdoor activities that will strengthen their social skills and help them form bonds with their peers. 3. Learning new skills and internship In today’s world, skill acquisition is essential for children. Your child must understand and be in sync with the most sought-after skills in the world. Give them up to master technical skills such as graphic design, artificial intelligence, animation, and coding. They can also learn soft skills and vocational skills such as baking, cooking, sewing, painting, and plumbing, among others. Helping them apply for job openings, paid or unpaid, can also help them gain confidence in the business world. 4. Playdates Psychological research has demonstrated that children must interact with one another to grow and develop their interpersonal skills. As a result, you must schedule playdates and gatherings for your children and their friends. This will assist them to ease without complications into society, whilst aiding in shaping their habits and lifestyle. READ: How to Plan the Best Summer Holiday Experience for Your Child Conclusion Understanding the dynamics of keeping your children engaged is a talent that every parent should have. This will assist you in ensuring that your children grow and develop healthily, that they contribute significantly to society, and that they become outstanding persons and leaders. Thank you for reading!
Learn the Different Stages of the Human Brain Development
One amazing feature of the human brain is that it continues to evolve into different developmental stages as one ages. As a result, the importance and growth of each stage will be dictated by how it is nourished, particularly from birth to adulthood. Thus, you should read the article till its conclusion as we will go over each stage of the human brain. Stage 1: 0 to 10 months Stage 2: Birth to 6 years Stage 3: 7 to 22 years Stage 4: 23 to 65 years Stage 5: 65 years above
2024 Resolution: Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2024! As you start the new year it’s time to “no gree for anybody”. Have you begun to map out your goals for the year with your resolutions outlined? We hope that this year will bring you all the organisation you need to finally have some time to yourself, follow through on your plans, and help the kids achieve their individual goals. To that end, we conducted a short survey to find out what the kids were thinking and hoping to accomplish throughout the year. We must admit that it was hilarious, but it was also realistic, since they are kids after all, and would only be interested in such things. Here are some of the feedback we got from the children I want to play
Things You Need to Know When Choosing a School for Your Child
Have you ever found yourself pondering over the crucial decision of choosing the right school for your child? You’re not alone; many parents share this concern, and it has become the most recurrent question asked. In this article, we highlight the different factors you need to consider when choosing a school for your child. Follow through to the conclusion to learn more. Firstly, as a parent, it’s vital to grasp that the essence of growth lies in personality development. At each developmental stage, children must acquire psycho-social abilities and master skills that contribute to the development of wholesome personalities. Secondly, the educational journey of every child should aim to develop a set of skills that prepare them for future work life whether they become employees or employers. READ: Is Homeschooling a Viable Option in Africa? Preschoolers Skill: Trust – This develops through relationships with different people, building hope for reliable support in challenging situations. Question: How long have your staff worked with your school? Skill: Autonomy – Grit, resilience, and healthy self-esteem are nurtured through the development of independence and the ability to make choices. Question: How much help do the children get now and as they grow older? Do they have classroom responsibilities? Skill: Initiative – Proactivity becomes ingrained in their personality, standing out in group learning sessions, and fostering leadership skills and confidence. Question: How do you encourage independent problem-solving? What games, tools, or rules do you have? Skill: Language and Communication – From forming words to introducing reading skills, laying the groundwork for effective communication. Question: What are the word expectations the school has for children in each class? Are the children exposed to public speaking? Are they allowed to express themselves freely? Skill: Mathematical thinking – Identifying numbers, rote memorisation, relating these numbers to quantities to answer the questions, how many, how many more, how many left. Question: Do you have practical simulations of the use of numbers in the classrooms? How do you do that? In choosing a preschool, inquire about how schools train and assess your child’s development in these crucial areas. The mastery of these basic skills significantly contributes to their confidence in grade school. READ: The Different Stages of the Human Brain Development Grade Schoolers When it comes to grade/primary schools, the approach is key. Parents must consider keenly the school’s approach to teaching these skills in tech-savvy methods to prepare the children for the future. Reading Skills: Phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension are foundational for effective communication and intelligent expression of thought. Mathematics Skills: Basic arithmetic operations, number sense, geometric relationships, and problem-solving skills prepare your child for future fields like data science and computing. Writing Skills: From spelling and grammar to creative writing, these skills contribute to content development, proposal writing, and coherent expression of ideas. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Essential for developing emotional intelligence and logical reasoning. Organization and Time Management: Lay the groundwork for personal leadership and self-management. Communication Skills: Active listening, effective verbal communication, and participation in discussions contribute to diplomacy and objective communication. Computer and Technology Literacy: Basic computer skills, navigation of online resources, and understanding internet safety pave the way for future proficiency in technology. Study Skills: Note-taking, test preparation, and time management skills contribute to focused and effective learning. Social Skills: Collaboration, conflict resolution, and respectful communication build the foundation for effective networking. Research Skills: Vital for navigating information overload and evaluating the accuracy and relevance of information. While schools, religious institutions, and social clubs can contribute to instilling your child with these skills, as a parent, the bulk of the responsibility lies with you. Observing, catching the vision, and seeking support for areas beyond your strengths is crucial. This is where a parental support enterprise like ours can make a significant impact. Let us help you raise your child with the values and proficiency that will take them the farthest. Conclusion Creating a unified family vision to influence choosing a school for your child, is very essential. This lays a critical foundation, given that parents must work together to guide and optimise decision-making for the home. While it may appear to be a lot, years of childhood training will allow them adequate time to acquire these necessary skills for the future, so starting early is critical. Let us know in the comments what help you will need to achieve this at this time. Thank you for reading!