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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – MANHATTAN, Kan. – Parents who fret about sending their first child to school may later send his or her siblings off without a second thought, a Kansas State University child development specialist said.
While not the first in the family to enter school, most children can,
however, benefit from parental attention when settling into a new
school year, said Charles A. “Chuck” Smith, Kansas State University
Research and Extension child development specialist.
A new school year requires transitions for children and their
parents, said Smith, who explained that the age of the child will
influence recommendations for parents.
“A child who attended a neighborhood pre-school and is now entering
kindergarten in a larger school building housing primary grades can
benefit from some practice runs,” he said. He encourages parents to
walk with their student to and from the school (or the bus stop) to
learn the route and practice crossing the street.
Schools often will host a parents´ night or get-acquainted open
house, said Smith, who encouraged families to attend and, while at
the school, to help the child find his or her classroom, locker or
coatroom, restroom, lunchroom, and, yes, to even try out the
playground.
Meeting a child´s teacher is a plus, but Smith also recommends that
parents make an appointment to meet with a teacher (without a child
present) to share special needs.
“Children want to fit in and may be self conscious about allergies,
yet a teacher will need to be in the know to pick up on early
symptoms,” Smith said.
“Let your child´s teacher know that you are concerned about his
education,” he added. Ask: “What can we do to help support our
child´s education?”
Making an effort to get acquainted with a child´s teacher lets a
child know that parents are concerned about his or her education and
sets the stage for successful interaction at parent-teacher
conferences during the year, the child development specialist said.
Parents may be very involved when a child is starting school, but
parental involvement and support for education should be ongoing,
Smith said.
Children pick up on their parents´ interest – or lack thereof, he
said.
By the time a child has reached the third or fourth grade, parents
may recognize that he or she is doing well in some areas, Smith said.
Still, with any change – advancement to the next grade level, making
the change from elementary to middle school or to a larger school in
a different location, or new teacher – even a seemingly well-adjusted
child can be fearful and likely to benefit from parental interest and
reassurance.
“Though reassuring a child is important, continue to maintain
expectations and structure within the home,” Smith said.
“Children typically do better when they know what to expect,” said
Smith, who encouraged parents to strive to maintain a consistent
routine, such as fairly regular bedtime hours, time allowed for
eating breakfast, and time for the family to come back together in
the evening.
And, if you want to know how a child´s school day went, don´t ask:
“How was your day?” Asking a direct question can put a child on the
spot, said Smith, who encourages parents to share an interesting or
unusual note about their day as an invitation for conversation.
Younger children often will be eager to pipe up about their
experiences, while teens, who are protective of their privacy, are
more likely to share when doing something else, such as riding along
on an errand, or better yet, practicing his or her driving while
joining a parent on a trip to the store.
Smith also encourages parents to free-up time for homework, to
provide a quiet place for children to study, and to be available to
answer questions, but to not to do the homework.
“Let the child take pride in his or her work,” said Smith, who
encouraged parents to praise effort, rather than grades.
“If a child balks at doing his homework, he also may learn from
accepting the consequences for the failure to do the work,” said
Smith, who reminded parents that a child should not be expected to
have the same skills and abilities or to get the same grades as his
or her parents or siblings.
K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State
University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension
Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful
knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state,
federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices,
experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research
centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the
K-State campus in Manhattan.
www.oznet.ksu.edu/news