#elementaryschoolagechildren

By Claire Adams -

Every child has the potential for greatness. However, there’s no particular success or happiness gene, or a “one-fits-all” formula that does wonders. Being happy and successful means different things to different kids, but one thing that they all must learn is how to face struggles, failures and challenges, since they are an inevitable part of life. It is something we cannot shield them from and we shouldn’t. A bit of stress and discomfort is necessary in order to develop survival techniques so they can deal with adversity. What we can do is teach them resilience to overcome those challenges, as well as skills and tools to help them in the process. They need to learn how to bend and not break when facing stress or trauma. Resilience means knowing how to get up after a fall and recover from adversity and stress. This doesn’t mean they won’t experience those things. On the contrary, life will be full of them, but that means they will be better equipped to deal with it and emerge braver, stronger and more open to new experiences.

Here are essential tips on how to achieve this goal.

Connections and relationships

One of the most crucial elements in building your child’s resilience is providing a strong family network and support, especially in times of pain and disappointment. Contrary to common belief, it’s not determination and self-reliance that helps cope with adversity, but a strong presence and sense of support and safety from reliable relationships. In such a context, provided by family, friends, teachers or coaches, children get the chance to develop coping skills and learn how to change and adapt their response to stress and problems. Education experts in Australia, the USA and many European countries, have recognized the importance and effect of relationships that students form with their peers, and especially with their teachers. It’s the little things teachers do that make a big difference, such as careful listening, explaining and encouraging, and that helps students stay on track.

Daily routine and self-care

Maintaining a daily routine can be extremely comforting to children as it provides stability and structure. Encourage your children to create their own routines and you’ll give them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Make exercise a mandatory part of it – anything that gets kids active is stellar, and if you can make it fun, you’ll be a superhero! The choice is large, ranging from kicking a ball around, playing catch, walking the dog, dancing or playing detective in your backyard. Moreover, teach your kids the importance of self-care and be their best role model. Show them it’s important to eat healthy, move, have fun and rest. It’ll help them stay balanced and more relaxed.

Setting goals

Guide your kids by showing them how to set reasonable goals and take small steps towards big accomplishments. Point out that it’s about focusing on what has been done, not on what was left undone. Praise their progress and they’ll learn how to trust and value themselves in the process.

Competence

Be your children’s biggest fan and keep reminding them that they have what it takes to solve problems and overcome difficulties. In doing so, you’ll acknowledge their strengths and empower them to make independent choices. When they develop this sense of competence and mastery, they’ll be more likely to handle stress successfully in the future. However, be sure to let them know that it’s okay to ask for help. There will be times, especially at school, when things just get overwhelming, so show them a constructive solution. If there’s a snag in progress or the opposite, if the child has an extraordinary talent and desire to develop it, many parents recommend getting support from tutoring experts in Australia who can provide the best means of helping and nurturing your child’s needs and skills. The similar trend has been observed in the US and the UK, with the focus of giving kids a little push to either catch up or accelerate beyond the regular curriculum.

Perspective and optimism

By Jennifer Cummings, M.ed. One of the most important skills any student can have is the ability to be organized. Whether your child is entering grade 4 or grade 8, if they have the ability to keep their books, papers and projects in order and accessible, they will have an excellent chance of performing to their best ability all year long! Though most teachers work hard in classrooms to teach these skills every day, you can help your child to learn to keep themselves organized by following these simple S.T.E.P.S.!

S- Simplify Supplies

Students tend to want all of the latest gadgets and gizmos that are available in the back-to-school section of your local retailer, convinced by the media they are all necessary for academic success. However, encourage your child to buy only the basic supplies required by their school. The more pockets, digital planners, and other unnecessary add-ons your child has, the greater the opportunity to lose more important things they actually need for class. If your child does not get a school supply list ahead of time, you may want to purchase some basic notebooks and folders before school starts, and then ask your child's teacher for their recommendations after school begins. Buying only what you need helps your child stay organized and helps you save money, too!

T- Take Time

Before the school year gets too far along, take the time to create a daily plan for how your student will keep up with school projects and materials; by making a plan as a family to be organized, your student receives the support they need to organize themselves and stay on track. Decide on a certain place to put notices, backpacks, and do homework each day. Consider hanging a special calendar to write important school dates and projects on. Also, discuss who is responsible for checking that homework is done well each night; be sure that responsibility is placed on your student to promote good self-management skills; if mom and dad do all the work, the student won't get the real benefits!

E- Eliminate Excess

As parents know, backpacks, desks, folders, notebooks, and bedrooms are all notorious sites for collecting clutter in many forms. Corrected papers (some that you may be very interested in seeing!), snack leavings, assignment sheets, and old gym socks are but some of the detritus that accumulates during the daily school routine. Be sure that you have your child eliminate unnecessary papers weekly, if not nightly, from their needed school work in folders, notebooks, binders, and backpacks. Not only will this help to reduce clutter, but will help you to be sure that you are seeing more of your child's work on a regular basis.

P- Prepare Ahead

By Sharon Scott, LPC, LMFT - Counselor's Corner - Ease Your Child's School Anxiety the first weeks of school. Are your children excited, nervous or scared about school? Or do you have the child that doesn't even want to hear the name school before it actually begins? If your child is in the so-called "in" group, he or she may be excited about school, however, that child generally worries about staying in the group.  If your child is a jock or in the band, again they may already have a comfortable peer group, but they may wonder if they'll do ok this year in the activity. The point is most kids have some anxiety about school, which parents may be able to help tone down.

Friends

If your child had someone who pestered him last year, he may wonder if that person will be in his classes.  If your daughter's best friend moved away over the summer, she may wonder whom she'll sit with at lunch time.  Other kids may have heard about someone being bullied or some tragedy happening at a school and worry if it could happen to them or at their school.

Empathy

Think about the fears and thoughts your child might have.  But avoid getting your own fears mixed up with his or hers and passing it on to them.  Bring up those problem areas as a discussion to talk about how to handle these various troubles.

Bully Prevention

If yes, kindergarten begins in just a month or less away. Is your child ready? Here are some kindergarten readiness tips from the Family Involvement of Network Educators at Harvard University. Access to quality pre-school programs give kids the best chance of success A smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten makes a difference for children's outcomes Families play an important role in the transition to school It's all About Relationships Among Families, Early Childhood Programs, Schools and Communities.

Kids and preschool:

About 48% of kindergartners have not been enrolled in any preschool program. About 27% were enrolled in part-day programs About 26% of kindergartners attended a full time pre-kindergarten or preschool program.

A Smooth Transition to Kindergarten Consists of: