The primary years are perhaps the most important, in terms of the child’s overall development, and as a parent, one can help significantly in guiding the child through these formative years. Schooling becomes increasingly more academic, and it is during the primary years that a child’s interests become apparent. As a parent, one should recognise the child’s talents, and encourage them in every possible way, offering financial support and motivation.
The Right School
Primary school education is the foundation for whatever future the child will have, therefore the right type of education is paramount, if the child is going to realise his or her potential. All Saints’ College is one of the finer primary schools in Perth, and accepts students from Kindergarten through to Year 12. The school focuses on the child, rather than just academic performance, and encourages students to play an active role in the community.
Diversity of Talent
Society is evolving, and so is education, with the realisation that human skills are varied, schools are helping their students to develop their unique personal talents, while teaching them how to be positive members of society.
Enquiring Minds
A young person asks a lot of questions, and this is something to encourage, as it shows an interest in learning. If a child asks their parent a question, rather than just give the answer, it might be better for the parent to work through the process with the child, and elicit more questions.
Develop Imagination and Creativity
The foundation of any academic education is imagination and creativity, so story time should be filled with tales of dragons and castles, and encourage the child to think about how the story might have ended differently. Making up alternative endings is a fun way to develop a child’s imagination, and helps them to understand the difference between fiction and reality.
Home Environment
In this hi-tech digital world we live in, it is easy to get wrapped up in gaming and social media sites, yet for a young person, there should be limits. If a child uses the Internet as a learning tool, they are able to self-learn at any time, and guidance from a parent is necessary to prevent misuse. Games should be strictly limited, and only played when all household chores, and homework are completed.
Lead by Example
Children respond well to role models, so a parent should be an active member of the community, and display all the traits one would wish the child to have. If one is punctual and responsible in their actions, the child will respond in a positive way.
Other Children
Of course a child will have friends, and peers play an important part of learning, so it is essential that the child’s friends are well balanced and behave appropriately, as any bad behaviour might rub off on the child.
For a parent, the primary years are important, so great care must be taken to ensure the child has a balanced education, in the right learning environment.