A child is the apple of a parent's eye. For the parent, nothing is good enough for the child. He must have the best clothes, the best education, the best of everything. In the process of providing all this, the child gets pampered. And if both parents go out to work, there will be the additional feeling of guilt that they are unable to spend time with the child. They try to make up for this lapse by indulging the child some more. In no time, the child learns how to get things done by emotional blackmail. This will prove detrimental to the child's welfare in the long run. He will surely not lack in things tangible. He may not lack even in knowledge. But he will fall woefully short in the ‘values’ department. Such a child will in all probability be a selfish brat, uncaring for others, arrogant, disrespectful. He will be a couch potato watching meaningless programmes on television and whiling away time idly with friends. The child used to having his own way at home may never learn how to handle any kind of failure and even as he achieves physical growth may remain an emotional cripple. Such may be the fate of a child with seemingly the best education that money can buy. Parents will have only themselves to blame for such a state of affairs. Between spending all their time on earning as much as possible for the sake of the child and thinking that their child can do no wrong, they would have spoilt the child rotten. The solution of course rests with the parents themselves. They have to realise that the environment in which the child is reared, plays a significant role in moulding his character. They cannot shrug off their responsibility by just admitting the child to a prestigious school. School may be good for theory but for practical lessons in life, the home is the best place and parents, the finest teachers. For best results of course, the parents have to lead by example. A lying parent cannot teach the child the value of truth, a lazy parent cannot teach the value of work. Formal education may provide the child the means of earning a living, but the parent has to teach the value of service, the joy of giving. Many … [Read more...]
How to get better Grades
Every parent knows that success in school is important for success in adult life. Parents want to help ensure that success, but what, exactly, can they do to help? Here are ten steps to helping your child succeed in school this year. 1. Develop a schedule: Many families today are incredibly busy. In the rush to meet all the demands upon each family member from school, work, sports, arts and socializing - school sometimes gets crowded to the rear. One way to prevent that from happening is to develop a firm but flexible schedule - allowing sufficient time to meet each of the essentials. 2. Don't Overextend: Many times, when a family begins creating a schedule, it becomes clear that there are simply too many activities to fit. School Success may require being a little less involved in extra-curricular activities. It may also mean that parents find they have to cut a few of the extras out of their lives, too. 3. Get plenty of rest: Many students simply do not get enough sleep. Eight hours is actually the minimum number of hours a child should sleep each night. It is best to get more sleep. And don't count on weekends to "catch up" on missed sleep. It simply doesn't work that way. Adequate sleep is needed for each day to ensure optimal school performance. 4. Eat right: Poor nutrition and skipped meals lead to the same feelings of exhaustion and weakness that come from lack of sleep. Schedule in meals that include a good breakfast and minimal fast food. Make sure there are plenty of healthful snacks available for after school - like fruit, raw veggies, cheese and pop corn. And watch that soda consumption, too much sugar can make you feel sluggish. 5. Stay well stocked: Purchase good school supplies and keep them in stock. Nothing is more frustrating than discovering you are out of glue or your markers are all dried up, just as you are beginning the project that is due tomorrow. 6. Make homework a priority: Skipped homework can shipwreck an otherwise excellent grade average. Be certain to allot sufficient time for homework to be completed in a distraction-free atmosphere. Preferably the time … [Read more...]
