Your child’s success in school isn’t only limited to their academic prowess but also extends to their social and emotional development. All three aspects should be viewed together so that every child has a chance to feel happy in themselves no matter what their strengths. Each individual child has talents and gifts which need to be encouraged and fostered as the leaders of this senior school in Surrey believe.
How to help your child succeed
There are many ways to help your child reach their true potential at school. One of the most important factors is that of confidence and willingness to just ‘have a go’ at whatever challenge is thrown their way.
Start early with positive reinforcement. When your child does something well, let them know that they should be proud of themselves. This is important because it shows children that they are their own judge and that when they attempt something, they are the ones who need to measure their own success. It’s their own opinion which matters. If your child has attempted something and not succeeded – even something small like building a tower of bricks, ask questions like these:• Did you enjoy trying?• How might you have done things differently?• What will you change next time you try?
These questions put the responsibility for their successes and failures in their own court. Nobody else can take the blame. In this way, even small children learn to learn – and learning to learn is fundamental to success.
Help them find their strengths
Help your child to learn all they can about their own strengths. If your child is good at maths, then encourage them to join a club and meet others to work with and compete against. The same goes for any special interest your child might have. Take it seriously and let them know you value their interests.
Children who know that they are valued and taken seriously will automatically value themselves and take their own efforts seriously. Don’t worry about ‘bigging them up’ too much. As long as there is merit in what they are attempting then they deserve to be acknowledged for that. Your child will succeed in many different areas when they are confident enough to try.
