HEN CHILDREN

return to school

this fall, they'll
face the challenges of
learning new skills and new
subjects once again.

Productive learning takes hard
work, dedication and, above all,
self-confidence. Parents can take
an active role in helping children
develop and maintain a positive at-
titude.

Improving children’s self-esteem
is one of the most important things
a parent can do to help them
become successful. Self-con-
fidence and self-esteem begin to
develop during a child’s early
years.

Advice from experts

Try some of the following tips
to help children achieve self-
esteem:
© Be positive.

Children watch parents very
closely to learn how to react. Be
sure you offer positive reactions
whenever possible.
© Encourage trying.

Encourage your children not to
fear making mistakes. Parents
who teach their children that even
mistakes can be learning oppor-
tunities broaden their children’s
perspectives because they’re more

d their child’s success
@ in school goes far
beyond learning the ABCs
and doing algebra
homework.

As children head back to
class, offer some simple
ways for them to do well in
school.

This is a list of things that
parents might know are im-
portant, but not think of in
terms of helping with school.

For instance, parents

Get organized

SUMMER HAS sped
f away, and those long
4 displays of notebooks
and pens you see in every
supermarket and drugstore
in town signal the start of
another school year.

To get back in sync with the
hectic schedule that September
brings, now is the time to organize
so students in your household are
set for the new routine.

One of the basic rules for good
organization is to keep like things
together; for the student this
means that school supplies, books,
audio tapes and computer disks
each have a special storage area.

To help get it all together, store
items that are easily misplaced in a
room, desk or locker. Boxes with
lids keep contents together.

STUDENTS WHO get support at home have the confidence they need to enjoy the school year.

willing to attempt new activities.
© Teach goal setting.

Teach your children to set goals
and to focus on the steps leading

sometimes think they have
to have all the answers to
children’s questions.

But what's really important
is that parents know how to
search out answers with
their children.

The little things that
parents do every day can
add up and make all the
difference in the world.

Because parents are so
busy, the tips are designed
to take little time and ft into
daily life:

Ways to help

@ Handle questions when they’re
asked. Every question is a teach-
able moment that could slip by if
left for later, so search out an-
swers together.

® Listen and ask your children’s
opinions. If you build children’s
self-esteem at home by showing
that their feelings are important,

they will have the confidence in
themselves that is so important in
the classroom.

@ Praise your children. When
they do a good job in school or at
home, let them know how proud
you are,

@ Read aloud to each other. Start
early — a love of reading starts at
home, and so much of education
depends on the ability to read.

© Teach your child the joy of
reading by example. Read and
show how important reading is by
having all kinds of books, maga-
zines and newspapers available at
home, Turn off the TV for quiet
reading time.

@ Provide a quiet, well-equipped
study place at home. Have a dic-
tionary, an atlas, and other ref-
erence materials available so that
children are best able to do their
homework.

@ Establish a
playtime, meals, studying and
bedtime. The importance of
structure and time planning are
taught when you live according to
a schedule.

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to the goals. Help them learn to
evaluate their progress as they
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© Encourage decision-making.

Provide opportunities for your
children to make decisions. Try to
provide two or three alternative
solutions with which you feel
comfortable.

Let your children make the
choices. If children learn this
process early on, they will gain
confidence in themselves.

You can practice these attitudes
at home and look for the same
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