back to school: creating a positive experience
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8/14/2019 Back to School: Creating a Positive Experience
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2009 H O W T O H E L P Y O U R C H I L D H A V E A P O S I T I V E E X P E R I E N C E FREE
Back to School! You have seen
the signs in stores, schools, andother places. Does the idea of thebeginning of the school year bring asmile or a frown? Is your child oradolescent looking forward to thebeginning of school or dreading it? Iwould like to share with you someideas to help your child have a
positive experience in school this
year.
As an educational anddevelopmental psychologist, I havefollowed the research and literatureabout school success. As a positivepsychotherapist, I have talked tomany parents about what works and
what does not work for them.
Although there are ongoingdiscussions about many things, thereis also great consensus on whatparents can do to help. Here aresome of the more important thingsyou can do to help your child besuccessful this year.
Its been (mostly) a Great Summer. Now What?
DOES THE IDEA OF THE
BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
BRING A SMILE OR A FROWN?
FRIENDS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ARTISAGOODOUTLET PRESCHOOL FUN
BACK TO SCHOOL
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1. Have a positive attitude towardschool and education. Talk to your childabout the advantages of school andstress the importance of an education. Ithelps if your child sees you furtheringyour own education by taking a class ora seminar.
2. Instill basic values and provideplenty of love and limits. Children needboth to feel secure. And secure childrenlearn better. Do not make your childfeel that your love is conditional onschool grades.
3. Read daily to your younger children
and listen to your older children read.Provide positive reading material forolder children and encourage them touse the library. School success isdependent on reading abilities. Dowhatever is necessary to ensure thatyour child can read well.
4. Encourage your child. It is easy todiscourage a child. We do it by beingoverly critical, expecting perfection,
being pessimistic, expressing unrealisticfears, nagging, and pointing outweaknesses rather than strengths.Instead, inspire your child withconfidence. Find something positive tosay every day; encourage your childsefforts; reward progress (even if it is notas much as you would like); promoteself-reliance and self-management;notice strengths and help your child
build on them.
5. Be involved. Take time to get toknow your childs teachers andfrequently check your childs progress.Read carefully what you receive fromschool, attend school orientations and
parent-teacher conferences, and ask tobe told immediately of any problemsthat may develop. At home, provide aspecific time and place to dohomework, with no distractions, offerhelp if needed. Show interest in andcelebrate big and smallaccomplishments, and attend schoolactivities and functions that your child
is involved in.
A positive attitude, encouraging and noticing strengthsand efforts, helps your child develop an I can attitude.
WHAT HELPS
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
PROVIDE LOVE AND LIMITS
READ TOGETHER
ENCOURAGE
PARENTS INVOLVEMENT
MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR
SCHOOL SUCCESS.
BE INVOLVED
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Provide andEncourage PositiveMessages!
6. Help your child be successful. Childrenwho have different ways of learning,
whether they are intellectually advanced orslow learners, are more at risk. If yourchild is struggling for school success andlosing, because he or she is not average,find a school program where success ismeasured in terms of individual potential,not grade-level expectations. Make surethere are enough challenges, but also thatthe challenges are not overwhelming.Look for teachers willing to individualizetheir instruction to the needs of your child.If you find something at which your childcan succeed, even if it is not related toschool, the resulting boost in confidence
may be transferred to school. Even if it isnot, it will help preserve your childs
personal confidence and sense ofachievement.
7. Look for help. If you or your child arehaving a hard time with school or
parenting issues, look for help. One way isto find a life coach who can help you sortissues and support you in your quest tofind the best solutions. You can also talk toa school counselor or to a psychologist ifmore specialized help is needed. If youwant more information on how to findhelp, send an email to:[email protected] or call (302)399-3915 and I will be happy to help youfind the information you need.
Above all, send positive messages to yourchild. Statements like You are special, I like you, You have many talents,You can do this, You can do anythingyou want to do, will give your child a
positive I can attitude that will take overand become an internal motivation forsuccess. Thats how the leaders oftomorrow are formed!
Article by Ada Gonzalez, Ph.D.,LMFT
Educator, Psychotherapist, and coach.
Websites: www.adagonzalez.com and
www.logosnoesis.com
CHILDREN ARE THE HOPE OF
THE WORLD!
I LOVE. . .
RECENT BRAINSTORMING FOR
POSITIVE WORDS RELATED TO
SCHOOL AND LEARNING THAT
COULD BE ATTACHED AFTER I
LOVE. . . PRODUCED: READING,SCIENCE, FRIENDS, SMILES, COOL
TEACHER, GROUPS, DRAMA, NEW
CLOTHES, ART, MUSIC, RECESS,
HELPING OTHERS, MY SCHOOL
SCIENCE PROJECTS, ETC. WHAT
DO YOUR KIDS LOVE?
I L OVE WHO I AM
HELPING YOUR CHILD DEVELOP
PERSONAL CONFIDENCE GOES A
LONG WAY TO ENSURE SUCCESS.
ENCOURAGE HIS/HER INDIVIDUAL
GIFTS, HAVE REALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS, AND FIND EVERY
DAY SOMETHING TO ENCOURAGE
AND PRAISE. KEEP CRITICISM TO
A MINIMUM. REMEMBER. . .
SEVEN POSITIVES FOR EVERYNEGATIVE IS ABOUT THE RIGHT
BALANCE.
ENCOURAGEMENT
A PARENTS ENCOURAGEMENT IS
VITAL TO THE CONFIDENCE ANDDETERMINATION CHILDREN WILL
NEED TO EXPEND EFFORTS TO
LEARN. ANATOLE FRANCE SAYS,
NINE TENTHS OF EDUCATION IS
ENCOURAGEMENT. NOTICE THEIR
STRENGTHS AND ENCOURAGE
THEM TO USE THEIR GIFTS AND
TALENTS.
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