The new school year has started. Most schools have actually gone halfway into the term. Everyone is trying to settle into the daily routine. The children are aware the long holiday is over and work, learning and different activities has started fully. There is a lot of buzzing, laughing, crying within the facility.
Children are getting to make new friends gradually and warming up to their teachers and other members of the school community.
A few parents that were a little bit overwhelmed and emotional at the start of the session hopefully have their emotions stable. They are a bit more relaxed and are meeting and connecting with the teachers and other parents. The teachers, caregivers and other staff are also helping the children settle down nicely. The children are excited coming to school and the home-school relationship is building up steadily.
Here are a few tips on how Parents can ensure they keep Enjoying the New School Year from the beginning to the end.
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Keep committing the children, their friends, the school, their teachers and every other thing into God’s Hands. PRAY and ask for God’s Help.
Talk to God about the school year.
Ask God to help your children enjoy learning, ask him to connect them with the right kind of friends, ask for wisdom for their teachers, pray for peace and progress at school, ask for God’s protection over your children and the entire school community.
Pray and commit the whole school year into God’s hands and TRUST Him for a smooth and great session.
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Have expectations for the new school year and write down some of your expectations.
As parents there are certain things you hope and expect to get from your children and from their school.
For example:
- you should expect that your child will be happy and he/she will love school. (Once your child settles in well, he will be excited and desire to learn).
- you want to see your child learn and progress well.
- you want the school to have great qualified teachers that know their onions. Teachers that are passionate and conversant with what they are teaching and how it should be taught.
- You expect the school to use a good standard curriculum.
- you expect the staff in the school to be happy, kind, loving and ready to assist when they are needed.
- Effective communication between the school and the home.
- You want school to be fun and exciting for your child.
- Extracurricular activities should be part of what the children learn in the school. (Talent can be discovered when children are exposed to different extracurricular activities).
- You expect a nice, clean school facility and a welcoming ambience.
- You also expect that safety is given priority in the school.
and so many other things.
Write down all your expectations.
- Always make your home a comfortable and safe place for your children. If your children are happy and loved at home they will thrive in school. Children will enjoy school and experience academic success if the home is supportive. There is a strong link between the home and the school.
If you raise a happy child at home, it will reflect in everything they do in school.
- Make up your mind and try as much as possible to be fully involved in your child’s education throughout the school year. Your involvement is key. When parents are involved, the children thrive better. Children are more successful in school when parents are involved. The teachers are encouraged when parents take interest because they know the parents that are involved will:
- follow up with the progress of their children.
- make sure the children do their homework (Homework helps you know what your child is learning in school).
- help the children be more organized,
- they help promote positive classroom behavior, by correcting and modeling the right thing.
- enforce good behaviour, disciplinary measures and they will also validate the children’s effort.
Try as much as possible to be an involved parent.
Work in partnership with your child’s school. You have to carefully follow your child’s progress and immediately you notice something, call the attention of the teachers or the school authority.
Schools are not perfect. They need your help. They need you to partner with them and be on the same page with them so the children can progress nicely.
- You should have continuous discussions with your children every day.
Some children may have challenges or concerns along the way, they may have issues at some point in time. It could be concerns about
the school, friends, their new class, the new teacher and some general things children worry about.
It will be great to have discussions with your children, try to calm them down and help deal with their fears and concerns when necessary.
If you are anxious as a parent, please keep your own anxiety in check. If you don’t keep your anxiety in check, it will easily rub off on your child.
