Watching your kids go through school can be difficult for parents. While we only want the best for our children and want to ensure that we do everything we can to give support and guidance, we also need to make sure we aren’t being too pushy and are leaving some of the decisions to be made by our kids, which will support their personal growth. It can be hard to strike this balance, but there are definitely some key things you should do as well as some you should avoid when supporting your kids. Here are just a few of them.
Congratulating Them for Doing Well in School Tests
Having validation through being congratulated is one of the things that make a lot of kids thrive academically. It is also nice for them to know that their hard work has paid off; if they are making their parents proud, they will want to keep this up in future. Even simply for their own confidence, being congratulated will help them feel as though they have achieved something successful. If kids never feel as though their hard work is appreciated, they may stop trying so hard, which is the opposite of what you want. Take a look at these pre-tests for everything you need to know about your kids’ upcoming CAT tests. You could even go through this alongside your child, and be sure to give them some sort of reward for completing the test to their best ability, whether this be a verbal congratulation, a sweet or a toy.
Don’t Shout or Be Impatient
Shouting or being impatient with your kids can have a really detrimental effect on them, so this is something best avoided. Remember, you don’t want to give your child the impression that their worth is based on their grades, which may be implied if you are impatient with them in any capacity. Also, think back to how hard learning new information and skills was for you when you were younger: you probably didn’t pick it up immediately, so neither will they! You should communicate with them in a way that suggests you are on their side, rather than that you are against them, which is exactly how it should be. As a parent, you should support your child no matter what, even if it turns out that they aren’t the best at this particular exam.
Don’t Be Too Pressurising Over School
Putting pressure on a kid can sometimes have the opposite effect to what is desired. Encouragement is great and so is having good ambitions, but there is a fine line between being motivating and pressurising. You should encourage them to do their best but also remind them that you will be proud no matter the outcome, so that they don’t have to feel anxious about telling you their results. Remember, everyone has different skills, so while some might be academic, others may be more practical or more creative. Every talent is valid, so don’t make them feel as though they are worthless if they can’t master them all. Pressure may negatively affect mental health in the long term, which definitely isn’t worth it. Instead, act as a friend to your child, not someone who is just there for discipline.
School years are difficult for a variety of reasons, whether it be academically or socially. To ensure your child’s best success, you should focus on their happiness as well as their abilities, which is the most important thing, after all. This will be so appreciated by them in the long term and they will feel grateful to have been supported.