Showing all posts tagged school

In Family Time, Parenting

First Day Of School Tips

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on
First Day Of School Tips

It’s the week before school is about to begin for children across the country. Not only are we in the middle of a pandemic and we have a ton of uncertainty around sending our children to school, your little one is about to have their very first day.  The first day of school after the summer is often difficult. After such a long absence it would be understandable if more children, and parents, than usual are apprehensive.

First Day of School Tips for New Starters

 For children just starting school or moving to a new school, there will be additional stresses. New people, unfamiliar surroundings, things to learn and a routine to keep that doesn’t involve being safe at home with parents all add up. It’s one thing to prepare your child for their next school trip when they’re your older kids, but preparing them for the first day of school ever is another experience altogether. 

The good news is that there are things that you can do to handle that scary first day. Here are some things that you can do to get ready:

Top Tips to Prepare for the First Day of School

  1. Take your little one to a few taster sessions for school before they go for their first day if possible. This will mean that the classroom is familiar when they walk into it for the first time. Some teachers post videos and pictures on school websites and social media pages.
  2. Start doing activities at home and talking about school to your child. This will mean that the structure isn’t overwhelming. You can even practice role playing school drop off using the garden door.
  3. Let them try on their new school uniform for their very first day of big school. Make sure you label everything down to their shoes, too.
  4. Get to know other families nearby with children who will be in the same class. This’ll help them to feel like they know people.
  5. Practice saying goodbye to them in private – just in case you need to cry.

In Conclusion

That first school drop-off is sad for you as a parent. If you can make sure that you have something planned to keep you occupied. Those who are heading out to work, make sure you have a busy day planned. If you are working from home or have something else planned, do whatever you need to do to get through that first very quiet day without the children. 

In Parenting

School Motivation: Top Tips

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on
School Motivation: Top Tips

When it comes to school motivation some children have it all the time, some part of the time and some struggle. School is hard and it presents a wide range of challenges for children of all ages, from those just learning social skills to those trying to balance homework, revision and real life. No two children are the same so when it comes to school motivation one solution doesn’t fit all. As a mum to a high school son and a primary school son, I’m hoping these tips help you find a good place to start if your child lacks enthusiasm about school.

Why is Your Child Lacking School Motivation

By finding out why your child isn’t motivated to learn, you should then be able to take steps to improve their motivation. For example, they may be struggling academically, so by giving them extra help at home, you might give them a boost in self-confidence, which will then encourage them to try harder at school. There might be other issues affecting their learning, such as bullying at school, or a lack of sleep at home. Get to the bottom of these issues, and proactively do something about them. You might then notice a marked difference to your child’s attitude to school.

Reward Them For Things They Do Well

We all like to be rewarded, and your children are no different. By celebrating their achievements at school, be they big or small, you might then boost their motivation to try harder. Taking an interest in their achievements at school could be a great stepping stone to a more positive attitude towards their own learning. Remember to celebrate all of the successes, not just the big ones. They’ve read an extra page, that’s great! They’ve coloured more neatly. Brilliant! They finished homework a day before it is due. Any of these and countless more are all things that should be rewarded with recognition and praise.

School Motivation &  Rewards

In some schools, children get rewarded for getting good grades or working hard at school. They might get priority for such things as school ski trips for their efforts in the classroom, for example. Speak to your child’s teacher about the incentives used in the school they attend, and remind your child of them.  My eldest has a great incentive system and it spurs him on and offers school motivation where it might not otherwise exist.

Is your child interested in a particular job when they’re older? Let your child know that trying hard at school will be of benefit to their future careers. Not only will they need the grades to qualify for certain courses of education for these jobs, but trying harder at school will also prepare them for the realities of work. Academics are not the only things children learn at school. Confidence, problem-solving, social skills, friendship, kindness and independence are all valid and important skills in life and in future jobs. Remind your children of this and how they can be rewarded by learning these non-academic skills too. 

In Conclusion

All children are different and when it comes to school motivation, there may be a hundred reasons why our young ones might not want to be at school or put the effort into their studies or extra-curricular activities. I hope these few tips help you start to find a way to get past any issues you might have or serve to offer tips to help your children succeed at their goals.

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