Autumn 2015 - The Pre and Primary School Guide | Page 11

parenting

Remove Distractions

Turn off the TV. Some children work well with quiet background music, but
loud noise from the CD player, radio or TV is not OK.
If you live in a small or noisy household, try having all family members take
part in a quiet activity during homework time. You may need to take a
noisy toddler outside or into another room to play.

Set a Good Example

Show your child that the skills he is learning are an important part of the
things he will do as an adult. Let him see you reading books, newspapers,
e-mails and lists. Help your child to use everyday routines to support the
skills he is learning-for example, teach him to play word and math games;
help him to look up information about things in which he is interested such
as cars, space travel, famous figures and so forth; and talk with him about
what he sees and hears as the two of you walk through the neighborhood,
go shopping at the mall or visit a zoo.

Be Interested and Interesting

Make time to take your child to the library to check out materials needed
for homework (and for enjoyment) and read with your child as often as you
can. Talk about school and learning activities in family conversations. Ask
your child what was discussed in class that day. If she doesn’t have much
to say, try another approach. For example, ask her to read aloud a story
she wrote or to talk about what she found out from a science experiment.

Attend school activities, such as parent-teacher conferences,
plays, concerts, and sports events. If you can, volunteer to help in your
child’s classroom or at special events. Getting to know some of your child’s
classmates and their parents builds a support network for you and your
child. It also shows your child that his home and school are a team.

Give Praise

People of all ages respond to praise. And children need encouragement
from the people whose opinions they value most—their families. “Good
work on your project!” or “You’ve done a great job” can go a long way
toward motivating your child to complete projects and homework.

Children also need to know when they haven’t done their best
work. Make criticism constructive, however. Instead of telling a sixth grader,
“You aren’t going to hand in that mess, are you?” say, “The teacher will
understand your ideas better if you use your best handwriting.” Then give
praise when the child finishes a neat version.

pre & primary school guide • autumn 2015

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