How to encourage children to go to school

CEBU, Philippines - It’s been days since school has opened. Every year at this time, it’s a common scene at grade school gates to see little kids desperately clinging on to their parents, scared to be left alone at school. The little ones’ behavior can look ridiculous to grownups – but to the kids, the situation can seem to be really a matter of life and death.

For one, there’s the separation anxiety. At their time of life when the kids feel invincible and helpless at the same time, it can be quite bewildering to be suddenly left on their own. And it’s no help at all for them to see other ‘bewildered’ kids around – in fact it can only make them feel worse.

But, of course, school is an established and proven system for preparing young people for life. And so at some point, kids just have got to be initiated into it. Well, yes, such initiation can be a difficult phase for both parents and kids.

Getting a little child in school is a challenge that requires the best creative talents of parents. Parents are willing to do and give everything if only to make their child like school quickly. They enroll the kid in a good school, providing educational toys to help the child learn even at play, and equipping the kid with school gear that he can be proud to show off to his classmates so he will have an easy time attracting new friends.

But even if the parents have already enrolled their kids in good schools, there remains the challenge to ensure that the young ones sustain their interest in going to school. The website www.spielgaben.com says that kids usually lose their enthusiasm for school if they don’t have friends there, it they keep failing in class exams, if their minds are preoccupied with other things outside of school, etc. And so parents need to think up ways to motivate the kids. The website suggests some tips:

Provide cool school supplies.

Parents need to provide the required school supplies for the child. It sure is difficult learning class lessons if the child lacks the tools. Pencil, pen, notebook, crayons, and a backpack to carry it all in, including books, are basic requirements. In order get the child motivated even more, school supplies that bear the design of his or her favorite cartoon characters will help. The child himself may be allowed to choose the school supplies that he likes.

Encourage the child to make friends with other kids.

Having friends at school can be a big motivation for kids to come to class. So the child shall be encouraged to go out of his way to make friends with other kids, to smile and start a conversation with them. Topics like the lessons currently taken up in class or one’s favorite teacher so far are good for starters.

Invest on educational toys.

Children love to play, but sometimes too much play can veer the child’s attention from his focus on learning. Giving the child educational toys can help keep him within a learning environment, while allowing him to have fun at the same time. Educational toys can even help reinforce what the child learns at school. For example, by playing Scrabble the child can enhance his vocabulary and spelling.

Help with the child’s school assignments.

Parents can reassure a child about school by helping the little one with his homework. Since the parents are more knowledgeable about their child’s comprehension level, they can explain a class lesson in a way that the kid can better understand. But helping does not mean doing all the work for the child. All the parents need to do is explain the assignment further to him. The child shall also have a peaceful and quiet place at home where to do his homework and study his lessons.

Reward hard work.

One of the best and most effective ways to motivate the child to go to school and keep up with his studies is to reward him for good performance in class. If the child gets a high score in exams, regularly studies his lessons at home, and does his homework, he should be given a prize for his hard work. Here, a good reward to give him is an educational toy, since as a kid he will surely loves playing with it. His favorite food or a new shirt is also a good reward. (FREEMAN)