(NC)Even the most experienced parents can make mistakes.
Dr. Donna McGhie-Richmond, Educational Specialist with Kumon Math and Reading Centres offers the following tips to help parents avoid five common mistakes when dealing with their children's education:
Underestimating Your Children's Ability Don't assume your children will be weak in a subject just because you were, and don't underestimate their abilities. Expect your children to reach their potential in all subjects, not just the ones that are easiest. If your children are struggling in math but love reading, help them discover new ways to enjoy math. However, keep your expectations realistic.
Expecting Perfection Instead of Progress If you only praise your children when they complete a task or reach a goal, they may give up long before ever finishing. Demonstrate to your children that you believe in them by giving genuine and frequent praise for progress and effort.
Allowing Your Children to Quit Whenever the Work Gets Hard Encourage your children to persevere when schoolwork becomes challenging by becoming their coach to get them through tough spots. Help them take a step-by-step approach. Work with your children to identify the information needed to solve problems and pinpoint places where you think they'll get stuck.
Allowing Your Children to be Disorganized To help ensure that children will become successful students, parents must help them acquire good study habits and strong organizational skills. Start by creating a special learning area at home and set aside time for homework and reading. For older children, teach them to organize their time by using a calendar or day planner.
Refusing to Admit that Your Children are Capable of Doing Anything Wrong Children are individuals, and no matter how hard they try, they can still make mistakes. However, mistakes are opportunities for learning. Remember this the next time a teacher, friend or parent brings to your attention your child's behaviour. Speak to your child privately and decide the best way to handle it.
