activities. Having fun, interactive activities to look
forward to can significantly improve a child’s mood.
Getting enough sleep and eating three healthy meals
plus snacks are also critical for maintaining a cheerful
attitude and good health.
3) Imagine a happy future. Many parents cannot
seem to talk about the future without causing kids to
feel anxious or overwhelmed. This is a surefire way to
instill a sense of doom and gloom in kids about their
options. Instead why not simply ask detached questions
about the future and listen. We need to allow children
an opportunity to inform us how they view the world
long before it’s time to leave the nest. It may be
tempting to correct their less practical inclinations, but
don’t. Let them have their hopes and be a safe space
where they can let them evolve.
4) Ask about the day. Don’t lose track of kids’
emotional states. Ask and listen without phones within
reach. Don’t sacrifice a daily check-in for a too-hectic
schedule. Before or after dinner can be good times to
chat, especially when there are after-school activities
and plenty of homework. In fact, the more hectic the
schedule, the more important it is to increase family
down time. Try to have longer conversations about how
school is going on the weekends, while you kick back
and relax. Be sure to spend at least a half to a full day
each week relaxing.
5) Review annual goals. Help your student
establish academic goals that serve their vision of the
future at the beginning of the school year and re-visit
them intermittently as the year progresses. If you sense
they are getting off track or distracted, simply say,
“What are your goals for the year again?” Briefly
chatting about goals can reinvigorate kids to put energy
into achieving them. If kids are not keen on their goals,
make sure they set their goals and not yours.
6) Make school a good fit. If your child is bored
in school, maybe classes are not rigorous enough. On
the flip side, if academics are too challenging, your
student may constantly be struggling to keep up. Talk
to the school counselor to see what options you have
for making adjustments. Placement in the proper level
of classes is crucial for student happiness at school.
Don’t let school become a breeze or a punishment.
7) Check grades regularly. It’s wise to let
students keep track of their own progress in school as
much as possible. But touch base with them about
grades often enough to help troubleshoot any problems
that might crop up. The frequency of chats can vary
depending on age and maturity level. Choose the
routine that best supports your child’s success. And then
cut them some slack as they take on more responsibility.
6 | FL AGLER
parent
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