People tend to form judgements based on appearance before they get to know you. If you’ve ever applied for a job, or have been on the receiving end, you know about first impressions. Unfortunately, this can happen at school too. Although teachers work hard to not have a favorite, it happens. How can you help your child when they are not the teacher’s pet?
I have three daughters with very different personalities. My oldest is very quiet and shy, and is a hard working student. My second oldest is the social butterfly and often gets in trouble for talking too much. My youngest likes to talk your ear off. She wants to point out all the obvious things that are happening around you.
When your child isn’t the teacher’s favorite, but complains about the kids that are on this list, don’t let it upset you. First, talk to your child and find out where their information is coming from. It might be something they have noticed in class. They might have overheard some other kids talking about it.
Explain to your child that everyone has different personalities, and some people get along easier with others. Just because you see a child laughing with the teacher doesn’t mean that this child is the teacher’s favorite. And if the teacher calls on the same students to help all the time, it might just be because he or she knows that the student is willing to help.
If your child wants to interact more with the teacher, encourage them. If they are shy and not usually outgoing, give them ideas of things they can talk to their teacher about. Explain that it isn’t important to be popular but getting along better with their teacher is a good goal.
Browsing Posts published in May, 2009
Baseball practice, piano practice, dance class, after school activities, homework, family night, church activities – are our kids doing too much? It’s an epidemic that is sweeping through our homes. It’s about giving our kids what we never had growing up, but too much can be a bad thing.
While children are in school, it should be their primary focus. When we add too many activities during the evening, we are limiting the time they can spend doing homework or reading. Plus, you are talking away what little family time is available when kids are in school.
If you want your child to participate in other activities, try limiting the number of extracurricular classes they take. You can try different classes in different years, allowing your child to find the activities that they enjoy best and are good at. Let them take dance or soccer one year, and piano or softball the following year.
Limiting our evening activities will also help our children. If they come home and you are stressed out, trying to get too many things done in the evening, that is going to roll down to your children and cause them more stress. Make your evenings a quiet and peaceful time, where you can help your children with their homework and spend some time together.
Every parent wants the best for their child, but realizing now that giving them everything may not be best will help your child do better in school and have a stress free childhood. Giving them limitations will help them learn self-control and they will be more balanced as adults. In our fast paced society, it’s a good idea to teach your child about what is most important – family and learning.
