Do all parents understand why their children go to school? For grades or for knowledge? What do they learn first of all — mathematics and Russian? Or analyze, think, discover something new? Perhaps parents are too worried about academic performance, but they forget about the main thing — what they really want to teach their children.
«Finally, holidays!» one mother breathed a sigh of relief in the parent chat. The rest of the participants supported her unanimously. But why do parents enjoy holidays more than their children? Because at least for a week you can take a break: do not worry about academic performance, do not control homework, do not do them with your child.
As long as a bunch lives in the parents’ heads: “good studies = good university = successful life”, worries about academic performance will not go anywhere. How can you not worry about the future of your own child?
But the more parents worry about grades and seek to control the student, the less he has a desire to learn. And the less desire — the more experiences. To break the cycle, try looking at school as a process that is not just about grades. Education, especially school education, is the knowledge of the world around and the search for one’s place in this world.
What goals would you set for your child? Make a list of these goals, at least five or six. Just do not need to write, for example: «I want my child to graduate from school with a gold medal.» A medal is not an end, but a means to achieve it. And it is quite possible that it is your child who does not need it. You should also not aim for excellent academic performance, simply because grades are too subjective and do not always evaluate knowledge.
What are the guidelines to follow? For example, you can write: “I want to raise my child to be independent”, “I want him to learn to think and analyze”, “I want him not to be afraid to learn new things”.
School time is a wonderful time when you can lay down not only the knowledge of physics and mathematics, but also useful skills and abilities.
Now see what you can do to achieve these goals? For example, to support the child in his impulses to do everything himself. Do not interfere with the process of doing homework, even if it seems that he will do everything wrong. Discuss (precisely discuss!) In a calm tone the reason for the bad grade. Don’t dwell on his failures.
After the goals and ways to achieve them are spelled out, think — how much have you achieved this yourself? How independent are you in making decisions? Can you analyze information? How do you feel about taking on new tasks? Evaluate yourself for each item written as a percentage and think — what was it that you lacked to become like that?
Or vice versa — what helped you to become such? The list does not need to be discussed with the child. Let it remain your guide in those situations when you do not know what to do. The list will help you remember the main thing — why you are doing this and not otherwise.
School time is a wonderful time when you can lay not only the knowledge of physics and mathematics, but also useful skills and abilities. It is the latter that will help you find your place in life and become successful. And physics can be forgotten after the presentation of the certificate.