Time is ripe to prepare for new school year
Summertime is a great time for children to relax. At the same time, parents can begin an assessment of their child’s progress in school and began early preparation the beginning of school.
Parents who have a child who is an underachiever can use the summertime to begin to understand the causes of the child’s problem and prepare for ways to assist their underachieving child when school starts.
If the child has a learning disability a psychoeducational evaluation may be necessary to assist in developing strategies to help the child.
Examining the lifestyle of the family may also be useful in understanding why the child is not producing up the level of his/her capability.
• Has there been an emotional trauma within the family?
• Is there chronic chaos and poor communication patterns among family members?
• Do parents and other family members set a good model for the encouragement of studying and learning?
• Does the parent make time for helping the child with classroom projects, homework and other school related activities?
After a thorough assessment, parents can begin to develop a “learning lifestyle” which may include the following elements:
• Offer encouragement for good academic performance. Help the child develop a perspective of wanting to learn for learning’s sake instead of the drudgery of remembering unrelated facts or simply to try to please their teachers.
• Encourage a child to accept school performance as a challenge rather than as a monotonous and boring task.
• Encourage reading and become positive role models by reading a wide variety of literature.
• Seek television channels that show science, art, music, literature and other art forms. Educational and informative programs come alive when viewed on these television shows.
• Set proper priorities for homework. If children understand that school is analogous to their parents’ jobs, completion of school work becomes their responsibility and will come before play or TV.
• Set a proper time and place for homework to be done. The hour should be one in which the child is not too tired to study. The place should be away from distractions. It can be either a place in the child’s room or a cleared kitchen table. Don’t expect the child to concentrate with bedlam going on at home.
• Plan family outings. Take a trip to a bookstore, the public library, a museum, art gallery or observe the wonders of nature. When parents show appreciation for art and culture, children will include these learning experiences in their leisure time.
• Last, but not least, talk to children about learning being a lifelong activity. Encourage children to think about post high school training and education. Help them explore a variety of careers in order to find the work best suited for their talents, ability and interest.
Start preparing now for a successful school year.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2001
