The growing child needs:
1. A responsive, sensitive and caring HOME ENVIRONMENT.
2. A professional, qualified and humane SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
3. Good social skills to actively participate with the PEER GROUP.
A School should pride itself on aspects mentioned in point 2 above. A pro-active school requires parental support and co-operation to ensure point no.1.
A responsive, sensitive and caring HOME ENVIRONMENT helps to build SELF-ESTEEM through your interaction with your child. Some ways to succeed in this venture:
1. Connect with your child and spend quality time, finding substantive ways to interact and engage with him or her, e.g. see a play together and discuss it afterwards, distribute meals at a center for the homeless or play a game together.
2. Provide your child with meaningful life values and genuine connectedness through actual practice and participation. Be his/her best friend.
3. Emphasize enjoyment of the activity, rather than performance. Explore new hobbies with your child, and take interest in their pursuit.
4. Do not compare your child with anyone. Every child is unique. Seek to discover small victories even in defeat.
5. Encourage your child to take control of important aspects of his/her life and to make their own decisions where appropriate. Do not be afraid to provide limits appropriately and consistently throughout your child’s growing up years and into adolescence; your child will eventually internalize these external controls, enabling him/her to develop a sense of authenticity and freedom.
6. Model healthy, balanced, and meaningful living and problem solving. Do not shy away from conflict or individual differences, as these are the stuff of life, an inevitable aspect of intimate relationships. There is no better time for a child to observe and practice successful conflict resolution, to feel accepted and heard, than within the safety of home and family.
7. In sitting around the dinner table with your child, find out what he or she has been thinking about, how he or she is feeling, what she is up to, what her priorities may be today. Eating together is a great way to get to know your child and their concerns.
8. Develop in your child a critical “immunity” to media messages. Teach her to see through the subliminal and subversive messages. Turn off the television, especially during meals.
9. Set worthy examples – respect for public property, punctuality, consideration for others, discipline in the house etc. Your child idolizes you. Make positive use of your stardom!!
10. Pick out good TV programmes for your child. But, keep a check on all TV watching at home. And that includes you!!
11. Let “Saint Appreciation” rule. Do away with “Devil Sarcasm”.
Your child needs you as much in adolescence as in infancy, if not more. Though the quality and nature of the parent/child attachment will change through time and life stages, the connection must never fail.
What You Can Do To Help Children Change as they are growing :
Continue your efforts by showing children the best that is in them. Positive correction techniques that teach social skills and emphasize good self-esteem are your trump cards.
1. Ensure daily revision of class-work for each day. Best time is the hour before bedtime.
2. A separate study table/room to ensure development of concentration.
3. Gift them books – promote good reading habits.
4. Adopt innovative methods to generate interest in all subjects.
5. Special emphasis on English improvement – use newspapers judiciously.
6. Ensure they take a nutritious breakfast daily. Pack a tiffin, and discourage junk food.
7. Strongly object to abusive language.
8. Daily outdoor sports are a must.
9. Avoid pressurizing them for good marks in exam. This will happen automatically if other points are taken care of.
10. You must attend PTA meetings with your child.
The mark of distinction of a master parent/teacher is the capability to help children believe in themselves and see themselves in positive ways. Your belief in your child's ability to change as he/she grows older is the most important factor!
With HOME and SCHOOL working in collaboration, the child develops all the SOCIAL SKILLS required to lead a happy and successful life. His/her choice of PEER GROUP will then automatically be such as to bring about TOTAL EVOLUTION to the next intellectual/human level.