The Gr. 12 learners are busy with their final national senior certificate exams and quite soon all the other learners will follow to determine whether they have been successful in mastering the expected outcomes in their subjects or not.
Anxiety levels and mood swings manifest at home and school, parents become more stressed due to the demands of their work environment and the forthcoming exams of their children, teachers are emotionally drained and the school management are actively involved in preparing for school readiness in 2014.
Parents, together with their children and our educators, play a vital role in enabling each learner to progress and to “leave our institutions with the applicable knowledge, qualifications, values and skills that will give them the best chance of success” in the corporate (adult) working environment.
For a student/learner to be successful in obtaining the required outcomes, it is important to exceed in the following:
- Skills: The use of critical thinking and problem solving, strong communication skills, strong fine motor and gross motor skills.
- Knowledge: Shows an exceptional natural curiosity towards exploration in the content areas, understands the advanced and required levels of instruction and communication. The need to be able to apply what has been learnt and not just knowing it.
- Behaviours: Demonstrate enthusiasm for learning, academic independence, willingness to take risks, tolerance of the self and others to be able to handle conflict and failure successfully.
- Emotional maturity: Demonstrate emotional intelligence; stability and maturity will be a determining factor and plays a major role in the child’s well-being.
You, as a parent/guardian, are the most important role model for your children.
How you deal with problems, tension, anger, love, caring and sharing, will be the way your child does. Parenting is never easy.
We all have a lot of stress and challenges. There is no guide, course or textbook assisting parents in the effective upbringing of their children. So what needs to be done?
Help your child cope with the demands of preparing for exams.
They need to be properly prepared for each paper they write, to focus on their work, concentrate and to be confident in themselves.
Get started (see illustration) and create your own study environment.
- Give your child lots of love and attention so that he/she feels secure and sure of themselves.
- Talk to your children for example during supper around a table. Try to make supper a time the family talks to each other.
- Encourage your child to have the confidence to ask questions, to express their fear, concerns and seeking your moral support. Encourage them to express their opinions and respect their opinions even if you disagree with them.
- Encourage them to dream of their future and to start planning for it, to set goals and take the necessary steps they need to fulfil their goals.
- Physical exercises should not be neglected and they should drink lots of water.
- Their study programme should be properly structured with enough recreation and sleep time, and a healthy diet.
- See to it that they apply the required self-discipline, dedication, determination and desire to be successful.
- Be firm but supportive – shouting or screaming in an attempt to bring about structure and discipline is a waste.
- Encourage your child to become independent, accountable and responsible by taking care of themselves and their actions.
- Emphasize the fact that success takes commitment and hard work. Nothing comes easy and should not be taken for granted. (Obtaining 40% means that 60% of the work has not been mastered yet).
Also get support for yourself as a parent. If you are happy and calm within yourself, you will be more supportive and effective as parent.
Focus on your biggest challenge first. Once that has been dealt with it becomes your biggest support and there is no reason not to deal with all the others.
Plan carefully and persevere: your success is waiting.
Written for the Addie by Wynandus Bezuidenhout (principal at Protea School)
Next month: “Help your child succeed in 2014”
Eds note:
If you have a question or would like a particular subject addressed, send your suggestions to Samantha Keogh on samk@caxton.co.za and these will be passed on for consideration in 2014.
