School going - Checklist for parents
School going children's behaviour
This line becomes very clear by the time your school going children starts structured school. Our kids learn all our best and worst behaviors. School going age range is crutial for overall child development.
The first thing to keep in mind are the new things that your child will embrace at this point and how she will be defied with this, in future.
Early childhood education is when she will come in contact with various kinds of personalities of different age and get exposed to different kinds of behavior.
So what can you do?
Keep a track of your Child’s behavior and the changes.
You will be happy to see many positive changes like,
- development of self esteem
- new found independence where she loves to do things by herself
- better social interactions like making friends
- love for education
- trying new foods and liking them
- story telling
- so on and so forth
Along with this you may also notice sometimes that they behave in a not so good ways.
This is the time when you as a parent have to be careful.
Many of us parents do the mistake of thinking -“ oh, but she is just a kid “.
While I do agree that we should not overthink about all their weird behaviors, often at this age certain behaviors can very easily become wrong habits if not controlled.
This is completely your judgement.
Where you should and where you shouldn’t. Child care is also about the choices you make.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""]15 things you can do for a well behaved school going child.[/su_heading]
1.Talk to them casually and inquisitively about how the day went and you should do it everyday at a particular time. I chit chat with my kids when we have dinner together and now they have got into this habit that they need to tell me what all happened in school that day. This is very informational.
2.Tell them the importance of manners and why good manners is appreciated by all.
3.Always talk to school going children in a way that they think – “What happens if the same happens to them”. For example if she behaved badly someday, ask her how she would feel if someone else behaved this way with her.
4. Children this age are just building on their self esteem, never scold them or be rude to them in public.
5. Show care for others infront of them. They learn empathy this way.
6. You may take your child of this age to orphanages once a year. This builds a sense of gratitude even if they don’t quite understand what it means.
7. Teach them to pray once a day aloud at this age. Like how they do in most schools.
8. If you have any house helps, make sure the child behaves well with them.Tell them that they are here to help us in our busy times and that without them we would have to struggle.I have seen in some households, its a practice to be very authoritative and firm with the staff always. Please refrain from this behavior in front of your kids. They do not understand why you are doing so, or if it is right or wrong. Kids simply pick up this behavior and repeat it wherever they feel like. It is not good for them.
9. Read out stories with pictures that have moral values. I can’t tell you how important is it at this age. If you can imbibe a good value system at this age, it will stay with them lifelong.
More you can do...
10. You need to teach values in everyday life. Easiest is story telling.
11. Always appreciate good behavior. Also show your disapproval when you feel it was not right. Children do not understand grey areas. Everything is black or white for them.Either you liked it or did not!
12. Also let them know that they should not tolerate wrong behavior of others. This is a tricky one. But as they grow up, they will learn. This is an important aspect of their development and they will gradually learn there is a line between when to tolerate and when not. But this does not happen in a day,month or two.
13. It is important that you teach them politeness and obedience. But at the same time you should teach them that it is fine not to accept anything and everything that comes their way. There is always a choice with them.
14. Make friends with parents of their friends. This will keep you aware of the happenings you may miss out.
15. Attend every single parent teachers meetings.
At this stage your school going little one is just getting accustomed with the world around them. They will learn that not everyone is like their parents and needs to know how to deal with situations.
She may come across,
- Bullying
- Fighting
- Cheating
- Lying
- Swearing
If you notice that your child who is going to school is picking up any of this or is exposed to
the above, You need to handle it as per the situation. Do not leave it open. Your support and understanding is all she needs.
Make her feel that you will always be there to help. In certain cases you need to inform the school authority and they will take action if you cannot.
This is of course not required for every small fight children pick up, but if you feel that your child is getting disturbed by any such thing, you must take action.
Teach her that she needs to handle such things in future. Prepare her gently for that fact that you cannot be around all the time everywhere, so she needs to protect and take care of herself.
Remember that the world has changed around us from the time when we grew up and that this happens in every generation.
We need to change our approach along. This is intuitive but we often ignore our instinct in a rush of day to day course of things.
The best things we can do is to react to our parental instinct and not shut it down. Trust me with this one thing alone you can guide the child to the best of your abilities.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""] Good habits for kids [/su_heading]
Good habits are important. Rules are important for all of us actually. For children specially “Good habits” are character forming.
I am saying this from my years of experience as a mom of two. Sometimes I wonder, if I have missed out a few rules that I should have implemented.
Yes, we do miss out!! But that’s OK, have at least the ones you feel important at the moment. I have seen , the matters on which we had rules, the children are more sorted on those.
There are certain rules you must have for school going children in the house. These rules might change or add one as the children get older or your situations change.
Kids should know that they have to function in a way. Rules define that and it becomes easier for them to understand and follow.
To make it easier you can define rules in certain structured formats, as a result of which, kids will not miss following it if you can persistently make them follow this just about one week. Trust me, this way it is easy!!
I am jotting down some rules for children that can be useful to you. These are just examples. I am sure you are going to have your own set of rules as per your convenience and situation.
Before that lets understand the science behind habit formation in the video below:
Hygiene habits
- Wash our hands, face and feet whenever we come home.
- Rinse our mouth with drinking water after we eat anything even if just snack.
- Change clothes after play in the park.
- We all use separate towel.
Study habits
- Sit down to repeat whatever done in school the same day.
- Write down whatever we learnt that day at least for one subject.
- We do maths everyday.
Family habits
- One meal a day with everyone together(generally dinner) We pray once and day and be thankful for this day.
- Do not say things very loudly in the house.
- Listen to music in the morning.
- We have our own set of household work(This can start by the time your kid is three. They can help you with small activities like keeping toys in place or peeling peas. Be creative and your kid will love this responsibility which helps them develop into responsible adults. But you should keep consistency in anything you do.
It is also important that the child knows the consequences of rules. What happens if they follow rules and what if they don’t. Until they understand this, There is not enough motivation of following them. Explain to them that,
If they do not follow hygiene rules, they might fall sick.
In case they do not follow study rules, they might not perform well in class.
Not follow family rules, might have several consequences.
Decide the consequences and be consistent with it.
Try to pre-define the consequences.
For example, if they talk loudly, they don’t get their favorite toy the next day.
If they do not come for the family meal on time or throw tantrums, they don’t go for the kid movie night out or any such thing. It is upto you completely. Define a consequence and stick to it.
It is likely that gradually to avoid the consequence , they start following the rules consistently.
Kids don’t naturally do what you want them to do always, but that’s ok.
As parents you will always know how to keep them in track.
Just do it without much drama and keep doing it every time. Kids get the message.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""]7 things you can do to Discipline your school going child[/su_heading]
If you do the rules part right it is going to be easy to discipline your child.
Just remember, disciplining a child going to school requires your warmth, love and support.
Do not be too authoritative and make them feel that they have to do it just coz you want it that way.
It does not happen like that with kids. Instead, make them feel the importance of the discipline.
For example, they get lots of hugs and praises for completing their work on time or remind them that since they followed all rules, they did not fall sick this season.
If you do the rules part right it is going to be easy to discipline your child.
Just remember, disciplining a child going to school requires your warmth, love and support.
Parents should not be too authoritative and make them feel that they have to do it just coz you want it that way.
It does not happen like that with kids. Instead, make them feel the importance of the
discipline.
For example, they get lots of hugs and praises for completing their work on time or remind
them that since they followed all rules, they did not fall sick this season.
1.Show them that you are disciplined too.
While you chit chat with your kiddos , let them know that you wake up everyday before
them to see to it that they are comfortable, you have to do regular work in office, pray
everyday to be positive,
You follow all hygiene rules to keep yourself happy and healthy and that way you can take
care of them better.
This kind of pep talks help kids in their initial years.
They are most affected by what parents do or say.
2.It is very important for all kids to grow up in a happy environment.
Always be friendly with your spouse when they are around and keep all your disagreements to the bedroom or when they are not around.
Our kids don’t get it but can gauge the overall vibe.
Fights between parents make them extremely insecure. They loose focus and become indisciplined eventually. I do understand that you may loose your cool at times but make
sure they should not be affected by the negative side of the adult world.
3. Disciplining your child is important but do not over do it.
If you feel your kid is not comfortable or does not want to do something consistently,
let it go for sometime. Try after sometime again. Its ok if it succeeds but if it doesn’t , don’t
fret. Not necessary for all to do everything perfectly.
4. You will know overall if your child is in right track and if she is maintaining discipline overall.
For kids of this age, everything is a matter of habit.
If done consistently they mostly make it a habit.
But if they don’t please do not force.
5. Remember, there is no substitute to your love and protection for your child.
Specially at this school going age, they become vulnerable as they face the world new.
This time for a child who goes to school, you need to show that whatever is the situation, you will be with her for her betterment.
Keep reminding them in some form that you are preparing them for the world and their future.
6.Even though they might not give attention to what you say always, they subconsciously absorb everything you say. Specially the words you repeat.
7.Remind yourself that your kid will grow up to be the way you are.
This thought will help you be in control and be your best. In turn will help you fast growing baby who is now a school going kid.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""]Health,Nutrition and Oral care for school going children[/su_heading]
When Children start structured schooling, maintaining their health and nutrition in children also takes a new form.
Simply because they are more independent now, have a mind of their own, are more vocal about their choices and their daily routine changes.
School going spend a lot of time outdoors and come in contact with more people. There are some basic things that you can do and follow regularly to keep your kid’s health and nutrition under control.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""]Cleanliness[/su_heading]
Slowly start to teach your child how to clean themselves and take bath. It will not be possible to do it for them always. Remember a parent’s role is to prepare the child for the times to come.
It is no pride if you do everything for them.
It is also important that they learn to clean properly.
For example children are often in hurry to finish cleaning themselves or are more interested to just play with water or they might not wash the soap properly.
Show them the entire process of proper cleaning few times, then leave it to them but monitor. Gradually school going children will start doing a proper job.
Same goes with bathing. Teach them to shampoo( which most kids are scared off) and to clean their private parts.
To dry themselves properly after a bath. Inform them what happens if they don’t do a proper job.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""] Health [/su_heading]
Your child is growing and taking care of their health is a constant thought that you have everyday.
While every parent will have it their own way, few basic guidelines will make it easy for you to keep their health on right track.
1.Keep them hydrated.
2. Children often forget to have water in regular intervals or simply ignore the fact that they are hungry.
3. Give them a glass of water early morning in empty stomach.
It will take few days to make it a habit.
4. Give them a glass as soon as they return from school and then a glass after evening play.
For the rest, remind them throughout the day that they must keep having water else they might have improper digestion and can’t go to play!! If you keep saying this , they will follow after a point.
5. Timing of food intake has to be maintained.
Give them meals at a particular time and do not deviate from the time. Slipping once in a while is ok but try to keep to the timing of meals.
6. Do not let them snack at all times. Snacking time also needs to be maintained.
This way she will complete her meals as she will be hungry.
If she binge eats, it will become a trouble feeding them and you will find yourself getting frustrated.
7. Allow outside food just once a week or so.
They will enjoy it more and it will not harm health while they feel uncompromised.
This way they will have something to look forward to and you will have a kid with good eating habits.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""]Nutrition [/su_heading]
With all the fast food availability which promises to make things easier for us, our kids health is at stake.
Most regular non-home food compromise on nutrition simply because they are made in mass, targeted at profitability, cut corners in the process and may use stale and non fresh ingredients.
Nutrition is easy as long as parents are themselves involved own the process of what they are feeding children.
Make it a habit of having two fruits a day, a glass of milk or any milk product that it home made and 1 egg(if your family has eggs).
If you just keep these three things in their daily diet, you are half way there.
Try to keep your food low in salt and sugar from the beginning.
Lately I found out that its just a matter of habit.
Do not keep them away from any food choices.
Remember they are individuals and food choices are very personal.
Let them try and decide if they like it or not.
Do not also force them to have something they do not like consistently.
Give some gap with the particular food , try after few days and see the reaction.
Do this few times. But if you see the child refuses every time, leave it.
Do not force her. It is not important to eat everything in life.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""]Oral care[/su_heading]
Dental care is important from early childhood. I am sure all of us make sure they brush twice a day.
Would like to suggest a few more things that you can keep in mind to ensure good oral hygiene for your little one.
Use a good brush and change the brush once a month.
Children often chew the bristles and they are spoilt mush faster.
This pokes their gums and that’s not ideal.
Use a low Fluoride toothpaste.
Remind them that they are not supposed to swallow.
Also I suggest you to use drinking water to rinse their mouth till your kid is 6.
Take them to a dentist once or twice a year.
This way you can arrest any problem without it getting too bad.
Train them to rinse their mouth with drinking water after eating or snacking. Specially after anything sweet.
One thing many of us miss out is to take care of gums.
You school going child’s permanent tooth are yet to come and their temporary tooth will fall off.
But the gums will not change.
Massage the gums lightly and train them to do this daily. This ensure better oral health and hygiene.
[su_heading style="default" size="13" align="center" margin="20" id="" class=""]5 things to do to improve academic performance and sports [/su_heading]
1. Respect the Childs willingness and interests.
2.The focus for a school going child is to learn “FOCUS”
3. Consistency and persistence is what you will be focusing on at this time. If you can imbibe this two traits in them at this time, your life as a parent is going to be easier later
4. As a parent keep track of what they are doing in school.
5. Speak to the child regularly about how they spend their day in school, who are her best friends and which teacher is a favorite. Along with this, without sounding vegetive try to find out if she doesn’t like someone in school and why
Happy parenting!!
