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Dear parents, As an educator I have noticed time and time again that children who are free to learn, without force and pressure from parents, become more confident and balanced people and prove to be successful in their careers and in social conditions. Children, whose parents encourage their learning but do not pressure, nudge but do not nag, feel that their parents trust them as learners. In turn, children begin to take responsibility for their own learning and try their best at whatever academic and social situation they encounter in school. They want to do their best not because they want parental approval, but because they have made a commitment to themselves. This intrinsic desire for learning comes from the child's inner resources. Parents need to learn to let these "inner" resources of the child emerge which is why letting go of the pressure is so important. I do not in any way suggest that parents remove themselves from their children's learning experience - on the contrary. Parents should play an active role in the intellectual, creative and social development of the child and provide a rich, stimulating environment: this is different than putting pressure on the child to "do well in school." Children inherently flourish in an environment where love, support and encouragement are present. The following are some suggestions on how to take an active role in your child's development. Read to Your Child  By
reading to your child every night you are not only encouraging literacy
but bonding with him or her as well. The child develops a positive association
with reading. This time with your child can have an immense effect on
his future attitude towards reading and learning in general.Mathematics in Your Home There are other ways for a child to learn mathematics besides textbook learning and tedious homework exercises. You can stimulate your child's natural curiosity for mathematics in a playful, joyful way. Board games that involve counting and logical thinking are excellent tools.  Play
these games with your child on the weekend instead of turning the TV on,
for example. Children delight in learning with their parents if they feel
supported and yet challenged. Give your child arithmetic lessons orally
or tell him or her math stories that he or she has to solve. Have your
child count money whenever he or she can, in the market, at home, at the
ice-cream store. Again, these children associate learning with parental
love and bonding.Take Time... I want to stress that there are wonderful ways in which to stimulate your child's whole being. Take time to tell her stories, at bedtime or during a walk. This promotes listening and memory skills, and inspires the child's imagination. Painting with your child is another invaluable activity which opens his/her eyes to the world around and within. Take time for a walk with your child; he or she may open up a great deal to you and tell you things that otherwise fall by the wayside due to the lack of time at home. Many parents, due to their busy schedules feel guilty about not spending enough time with their children so they try to make it up by taking their children to entertainment centers. What children ultimately want though, is to be present with the parent without distractions. Provide a Rich, Stimulating Environment at Home Children are naturally curious about the world they live in. The natural world, in particular is an enchanting place for a child. To encourage this curiosity take your child on a walk and point out the wonders of nature: spider webs, changing leaves, rocks, clouds. At home, section out a little patch in your yard or patio and start a nini-garden with your child. Your child will revel in the fascinating processes of growth and metamorphosis. A stimulating home environment has art, science, ecology, and books easily accessible to the child. Children will gravitate towards these books on their own if they are not forced or pressured to read or look at them. Let Children Play...  Here
at Anneliese's we encourage children to play with the elements: earth
and water. Children will spend hours playing, digging, building, constructing
and yes, probably getting a bit muddy. The benefits of this unrestricted
play however, are enormous and can kindle in children a scientific, artistic
and creative spirit, precursors to future careers: physicists, artists,
governors, cooks, etc...Take a Break From Electronic Entertainment Watching television is for the most part a passive act. Out of habit we turn it on and forget that it consumes hours of our and our children's time which could be better spent in more meaningful ways: cooking together, reading together, or simply playing. Further, watching television can lead to concentration difficulties, aggression, and anti-social behavior in children. In Conclusion The ultimate purpose of this letter is to remind you to enjoy your children's wonderful development as they grow as human beings. Each child is born with a talent or a strength that we as educators and you as parents must discover and encourage. Every child is unique in its development, this includes reading, writing, and other cognitive processes. We must allow each child to unfold as both a human being and a learner in his/her own time. There is no finish line or "winner." A child who doesn't read until eight can become a great poet or doctor or a child who only plays can become a great thinker or leader. We can raise intelligent, productive, balanced children if we give them a chance to find their own way, with their own rhythm - without the constant stresses and demands of parent "pushing" them to succeed. Our greatest contributions as parents and educators is to raise children who have a wonder for life and a love for learning. |
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