Ever wondered how the teacher can get your kids to do what you have been ‘harping at them’ for years?
This week this is exactly what happened in my class: I was discussing with the students the need for them to eat breakfast and I gave them some delicious options that they could eat or ask Mum or Dad to buy. Easy options like oats, fruit, toast, smoothies and I also spoke of things that did not fuel their bodies well.
I received so many emails from parents thanking me for this conversation, saying I cannot believe it. ‘Susie’ ate oats thank you > I’ve been telling her for years but they listen to you. How do you do it?
Here it is: b. teaching tricks >>>>>>
11 teaching tricks every parent should know.
- Offer them positive direction: instead of telling a child not to do something, it can be beneficial to frame it in a more positive way. EG. Rather than ‘Don’t run towards to road. Rewording it like: ‘if you walk towards the road it is safer and does not frighten the driver’.
- Talk about Technology: openly and if you do not understand seek to understand. These children have been raised in a digital world and have a far greater understanding and have been exposed already to far more than we ever had. The main thing is have honest communiation and continued dialogue. Ensure you set up time frames for usage and it applicable to all household user ( Mum and Dad, teenagers included) 30 minutes of consistent screen time is recommended for all ages.
- Take your child seriously: but also allow them to overcome some of life’s challenges themselves with strategies. Eg. Child comes home complaining of another child hurting them. Find out the whole situation: what occurred; who said what; why; where and if your child was doing the right thing. Generally most school issues stem from a miscommunication that is easily understood once all details are out in the open. MOST children are not spiteful or hurtful in nature. Fighting is never the answer: please do not suggest this.
- Stay calm during exam time or performance times: anxiety is contagious and if the adult/ parent is anxious about a result or performance the child will pick up on this causing further problems. By providing a kind, nurturing presence you can model the self care that will help them later in life.
- Give children a forced choice: when you want a child to do something eating vegetables or doing homework give them a forced choice. Eg. You can have mashed vegetables or whole vegetables.
- Overestimate your child: too many parents underestimate their child’s abilities’ in general growing up skills.
- Praise a child who is behaving well: if a group of children are playing well praise the one who is doing it the preferred way. If you have children at your house for a pool party > ensure you praise the child who hangs up their towel or walks around the pool rather than running.
- Don’t applaud achievements: it might sound harsh but instead of praising a child’s ‘A’ grades praise them on the how hard they must have worked. Praise them on working as a team on the soccer field and passing the ball not winning the game. Praise the effort NOT the result because most of the time in life the result is out of our control.
- Hide their vegetables: hiding vegetables can help the intensity at dinner time and make food enjoyable rather than a fight. Praise them when they eat them without being hidden. Discuss the reason why we eat vegetables for our bodies as it helps it to function better.
- Take time for yourself : raising this generation is exhausting and fast paced – teach your child to distress before bed with calming music, yoga, reading or drawing.
- Children are children: children meltdown in a similar way to an adult and it is ok. Just like we have emotional outburst when it gets too much children need to also but if you follow these above tips you will see a dramatic change in your stress levels and also the growth and development of your child.
Facts sourced and supported by:
Psychologist Dr. Genevieve Von Lob and Dr. Linda Blair
Health and Happiness always,
b.x