Eight tips to help your child cope with school
Here are eight tips for parents to help their children succeed in primary school.
Today marks the first day of school in South Africa. For parents whose children are starting grade one, it can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Parents naturally worry about how their children will cope and perform.
Here are eight tips to follow to help your child better cope with school.
Set aside time for school work
A grade 1 pupil might not be used to studying and doing school work. As a parent, you can help your child by scheduling time for their school work.
Be specific about the starting time and let them know they can only play after their school work is completed.
Create a workplace
It’s so much easier to work in a comfortable, and quiet space where there is no distraction. Create a small workspace for your child where she or he can comfortably do homework or study without any disturbance. This can even be a small corner in their bedroom, where you put a chair and a table for them to be able to do their work.
Buy the necessary supplies
Not having the necessary stationery or supplies can delay your child’s learning.
Check their stationery list provided by the school and ensure that you have bought all the necessary supplies your child needs to do their work properly.
Help them with homework
Homework can get overwhelming for a child starting Grade 1. As a parent, take interest in their homework and help them, especially in the first few months. However, don’t provide answers for them.
Allow them to figure things out for themselves and make mistakes. Their mistakes can help them learn.
Give them nutritious food
The food your child eats can have a negative or positive impact on their performance in the classroom. Make sure you feed your children healthy food such as fruits and vegetables and avoid foods high in sugar.
Instil discipline
Have a time limit for watching TV, playing games and cell phone use.
However, don’t completely cut out playing time, because kids need to play, and they also learn through playing. There are many great educational games that your child play.
Remember to also be strict on sleeping time. Your children need to get enough sleep to function at their optimum level. Not getting enough sleep can result in them falling asleep at school or feeling fatigued.
Create a to-do list
To ensure that your child doesn’t fall behind with school work, it’s important that they have a to-do list which will help them prioritise what needs to be done. The list can include items such as homework time, reading, tiding up the room, playing etc.
Be actively involved
Offering your child support and being actively involved in their learning can help your child perform better at school. Make it a habit of constantly communicating with your child about how they are doing in school. If they have challenges, take steps to help them. Being actively involved in their learning could sometimes involve talking to their teacher about their progress.