Parent’s Role in your child’s
development
Date: 16th February
2008
Speaker: N. Pushpavalli, Principal Sarada
Kindergarten
Questions from
Parents
Q: I would
like to introduce my child to music, foreign language, swimming and
Kumon. Is this a bit too heave for a 3-1/2 year old?
A: Your
intentions are honourable. However, you must first keep in mind that your
child needs “Time, Space + Peers” to play and socialize. After
providing for this, you can consider adding activities that are of interest
to your child. My personal opinion is that four activities may be one
too many for a 3-1/2 year old.
Q: How is the
computer lesson conducted for the Nursery children in
Sarada?
A: Initially
the nursery children are exposed to the different parts of the computer and
how to use the headphones and manipulate the mouse. They listen to
stories and learn to click to go on to the next page and click at moving
icons. Subsequently they learn to drag and release the mouse. The
software used are in line with the curriculum of the term and reinforces what is
taught in the class.
Q: Sometimes
my child reacts very aggressively if we say “NO” to some of
his needs. How to manage?
A: I hope I am
right to say that it is not his needs – but rather his
DEMANDS.
As parents you know better and you are right to say “NO”.
You manage your child’s aggressive behaviour by:
-
ignore his temper tantrums (Your child will soon learn that the
screaming does not get him anywhere).
-
Start a time-out area/corner
when the child has to go if he is being aggressive and is left there until he
calms down.
-
Indulge in positive
reinforcement –praise his behaviour when he demonstrates a positive
behaviour. Go for a family treat – an outing to the zoo, park, swim…. And
explain that you are doing this because he has done…… well
-
“NO” from one parent must be
respected by the other parent.
-
Be consistent in your “NO” responses
– this will give the right message to your child.
Q: Children
ask a lot of “Whys?” How to explain if we are not sure what to say? How to role
model?
A: Please do
not feel that you need to know the answers to all the “Whys?” your child asks
but you need to help your child find out the answers. Bring your child
to the library and search for books or use the internet to search for
information. There are some simplified answers to many of the questions the
children ask.
Q: Apart from
drawing is there any other way to analyse children’s
emotions.
A: Drawings
help children to express themselves and when adults show interest in their
drawings, children speak about their ideas and feelings. This is NOT
analysing their emotions – but giving children an opportunity to
express. Children also express their emotions and ideas through play and
conversations with people they feel “safe”.
Q: It’s
difficult to teach sharing. How can we do this?
A: When we
grow up in a small family with only one or two children there are limited
opportunities to share. So we need to create opportunities to
share:
-
Play – in play children learn to
share toys
-
Food – Cut one piece of cake and
share it (Most parents give up their share if a child likes the food – but
consider SHARING.)
-
Chores – share the workload in the
house – Father / Mother and child (within his/her capacity)
Q: How can we
make a child concentrate? He has a wavering mind.
A: Most of us
have wavering minds.
Help your child concentrate in small incremental time frames – start with
5 minutes and slowly build up to 8, 10, 12 …… Young children
cannot concentrate for long unless they are really interested in what they
are doing.
Interesting books that are age appropriate can keep a child focused and the
child would want you to read and re-read the story.
Q: At home my
child is very sociable but becomes very shy when outside. What can I
do?
A: The home is
the most familiar and safest place for children – they can do and
say anything. However not all children
have the same level of confidence when in an unfamiliar place. Perhaps
you can consider exposing your child to play activities with other children
outside your home – play is a good bridge to overcome shyness.
