Value Bookshop's Reading Notes

As a parent, you are your children’s first and primary teacher. You may think that teachers only exist in schools and classrooms. But that is not the case. Anyone who comes in contact with your children will have some influence on them. But you, being a parent, have that special bond and hold a special place in their hearts. Your influence is the strongest.Therefore it is important to take some time to reflect how to be the best teacher you can be. Here are some guidelines to help you:

• Open your mind and let go of traditional believes that learning only takes place in the classroom. Learning can take place anywhere – the kitchen, the garden, the store, in the car, while taking a bath etc…. Constantly ask yourself “What experience can I give my child and what can they learn from it?”
• Children have very short attention spans. Learning to focus is something that takes time to cultivate. Don’t push your child too hard. When their interest in an activity starts to wane, STOP! Pressuring the child brings no benefits.
• To keep the fun alive, stop an activity before your child wants to. Don’t give him a chance to get tired of the activity. This way, he will look forward to the “next time.”
• Do not play learning games with a child who has just misbehaved. If you do, they will quickly associate activity with punishment.
• Do you hear yourself saying “NO” to almost everything your child wants to do? Curiosity is a child’s learning tool. They love to experiment and investigate. Before you say “NO” again, consider the reason for your disapproval. Are you saying “NO” because it is an inconvenience to you or is it because it can cause harm to your child and others? For example, you say no when your child tries to feed herself because you detest the mess she is going to make. Don’t let your selfish motives be a hindrance to your child’s learning.
• It’s okay for your child to be silly. You should join in their silliness sometimes. This way they will be more willing to try new things and not fear people ridiculing them.
• Provide plenty of opportunities for first-hand experiences. Eating, tasting and feeling a variety of different fruits is better than learning about them in a book.
• Be ready to repeat yourself over and over and over again. It’s part of their learning.
• Allow your children to do things for themselves. Assist them but don’t take over. Things may get done faster if you do it for them, but that doesn’t help their learning.

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