Dear Parents and Carers,
As we are at the end of Term 2, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how much your child has learnt over the past semester. There has been great growth amongst all students, especially Kindergarten! It is exciting and rewarding to watch our young people develop independent habits and a love of learning.
Building Independent Young People
A large part of the PYP framework is to teach students skills to be capable and active citizens. We know as educators of our young people, that we need to “teach them to fish, not fish for them.”
Last week, Paul from Ascent Shoes ran shoelace tying lessons for Kindergarten and Year 1. This is a skill that our youngest students are capable of, with continuous practise. It can be much quicker for parents to do their child’s laces up for them, but are we taking the opportunity away from our children to learn this lifelong skill themselves?
As parents, it's natural to want to swoop in and rescue our children when they forget something important, like a hat on a sunny day or their homework. Experiencing the natural consequences of their actions is one of the most effective ways for children to learn. These experiences can be powerful motivators for remembering next time. Natural consequences teach accountability in a way that lectures or reminders often cannot.
Constantly running forgotten items to school can be stressful and time-consuming for parents. By setting the expectation that children need to remember their own things, parents can reduce their own stress.
Practical Tips for Parents
While it’s beneficial to let children handle the consequences of their forgetfulness, parents can still support them in developing better habits:
Create Checklists:
Encourage your child to use checklists to ensure they have everything they need before leaving the house.
Set Routines:
Establishing a consistent routine can help children remember important items. For example, packing their school bag the night before can prevent last-minute forgetfulness.
Praise Efforts:
Recognise and praise your child when they successfully remember everything on their own. Positive reinforcement can be a powerful motivator.
By resisting the urge to deliver forgotten items to school, you’re not just letting your child suffer unnecessarily. You’re providing them with valuable life lessons that will help them become more responsible, independent, and capable individuals. Embracing this approach can ultimately lead to more confident and self-reliant children.
I wish you all a relaxing mid-year holiday break and look forward to a wonderful Semester 2.
Diana Ivancic
Head of Junior School