::Back to Basics::
Ah, the days of summer trips to the beach.
Kids get caught up in sandcastles, chasing each other into the water
or throwing a Frisbee. We worry about sunscreen, snacks, and the
wealth of sand tracked into our vehicles. These trips take
preparation, packing, and a whole lot of patience.
In the hustle and bustle, we often miss the natural, quiet pleasures
of the beach; the sound of the waves hitting the shore, the wind in
the dune-grasses and the birds flying overhead. These basic pleasures
of the beach can easily be overlooked by busy parents keeping a
watchful eye on their children.
But, with the drop in humidity comes a new season that leaves little
time to head to the shores. Fall is coming quickly and school is back
in swing. Our children are hopping back on the school bus. They need
books, pens, pencils and a boxed lunch. Parents think about signing
them up for music lessons and other activities like swimming or
football, or ensuring a timely exodus to the morning bus stop and a
ride home from their extracurricular activities.
We spend our time packing lunches, matching outfits and searching for
backpacks. And in between preparing our children for the immediate
needs of the day, it is easy to lose sight of the less urgent, yet
very important building blocks of our children's future.
More than supplies, a new pair of jeans or the best new uniforms, our
children need support. They need the support of teachers, principals,
parents and guardians. Instead of looking at the big picture, we must
work with a simple approach. A parent is a child’s first and lifelong
teacher. They learn most from a parent’s example – so get involved.
The Department of Education offers these simple ways to help your
kids:
Encourage your children to read. Helping your child become a
reader is one of the most important things you can do to help them
succeed in school. Make sure that your house has lots of reading
materials that are appropriate for your children.
Talk with each child. Through hearing and responding to
parents’ and family members’ conversation, young children begin to
pick up the language skills they will need to do well.
Monitor homework and have a special place for your child to study.
This lets your child know that education is important and homework is
not optional. It will also aid in the development of good lifelong
study habits.
Monitor TV viewing and video game playing. Our children, on
average, spend more time watching TV or playing video games than they
do completing homework or other school-related activities. Remember
that children often imitate their parents’ behavior. Help your child
to use TV and video games wisely by modeling your own good TV viewing
habits.
Help your child learn to use the internet properly and effectively.
Spend time online with them. Public libraries have computers with
internet access, if one is not available to you in your home. If
you’re not familiar with the internet, let the child teach you. Have
him or her show you their favorite sites and tell you what he or she
likes about them. This will build self-confidence and pride in their
abilities.
For more information, tools and resources, visit the website of the
United States Department of Education at
www.ed.gov.
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