Help Your Child Make the Most of the Fresh Start

Help your child make the most of the fresh start

I just had one of those déjà vu experiences!!!

I was walking my dog Mia through my local primary school this morning.

It had gone through an instant transformation over the long weekend.

The grass had been mown. The playground tidied and classrooms had been cleaned in preparation for the new year.

It took me back to my teaching days when the year ahead was full of possibility. I remembered the optimism I felt at the start of each school year.

I was optimistic because the start of the year is a time of change for kids.

The old slate has been wiped clean and kids have the chance to start afresh.

February is the time to set the pattern that can last for the whole year ahead.

Psychologically, it’s easier to make a fresh start than to change mid-stream.

Kids are open to establishing new habits, new behaviours and new ways of thinking at this time of the year.

So with the notion of a fresh start in mind here are five ways to make sure the year ahead is full of opportunity for your child, regardless of his or her age:

1. Get your kids to school or pre school on time. A simple idea but an increasing problem for many families.




2. Establish an after-school routine that includes study or homework, even if they don’t have it. February is the best time to get kids to begin allocating regular time for study or school-related activities.




3. Reduce distractions that clutter their lives. Many kids start the school year with great intentions but by March they fall into old habits because all the old distractions are still there. Reduce, remove or place limits around distracting activities such as TV watching, electronic gameplaying, computer usage, SMSing mates – whatever overloads them.




4. Focus on the processes of learning, not results of learning. If you want your child to stretch a little or lot this year then you need to save your excitement for effort, improvement and contribution rather than putting them on a pedestal for their results of their performance. Results-orientated kids often don’t try unless they know they can succeed.




5. Build real confidence. There are only two reasons why kids can’t do well at school or pre school– lack of skill and lack of confidence. Kids will never get the skill they require if their confidence is eroded. There are plenty of ways to build confidence in kids including remaining upbeat yourself, even if your child isn’t.

The start of the year is also a good time for you as a parent to reinvigorate yourself and learn new skills that can have a lasting impact on your kids. Often small changes you make in your parenting can have a significant, lasting impact on kids.