During the middle of primary school years, many changes occur in the family. Your child is becoming more independent than before, has the ability to take care of himself and also has the ability to participate in household chores and other family responsibilities. Most families know this and understand that in many ways, the child’s life is becoming more independent. However, teens still need parental supervision and guidance.
Therefore, parents need to be more efficient, more vigilant and stay responsible in their children’s lives so that they can effectively monitor, guide, and support them.
During these years, your child may experience more self-confidence and overcome fear and doubt, be mindful of their own boundaries, become aware of their duties, and learn and believe in moral and spiritual values. When your child is in school, you and the rest of the family should pay special attention to the following:
1- The school
School plays a major role in your teen’s life and takes most of his attention and energy away from the family.
His elementary school years can turn out to be an exciting time in his life. By learning to read and write in addition to mastering other academic skills, he takes pride in his accomplishments and love of learning.
However, for some children, school can be frustrating and stressful. Learning disabilities can interfere with the enjoyment of learning. Bad study habits or lack of motivation can cause other problems in life. Sometimes, teens may not have a good relationship with their teachers or they may have separation anxiety from their parents. All of these things can interfere with their attendance at school.
For your child’s education to be as positive and productive as possible, consider the following:
- Closely monitor his academic progress and social interactions.
- Meet his mentor.
- Talk to your child about what they are learning in class and ask them how they feel about school.
- Encourage him to show and practice his newly acquired skills with you.
- Find out about your child’s homework and make sure they are ready for exams.
- Limit television time and encourage him to read, write, and express his creativity through hobbies and sports.
- If he (or his teacher) reports problems, communicate openly with school staff.
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2- Friendship
As important as family is for a child, childhood friends and acquaintances are also important for him.
He spends more time with his peers, both in and out of school. The child’s friends will be his playmates and your child will likely be socially accepted by his friends. At this age, he will have a great need for acceptance and recognition. The family must also deal with the stress associated with the child’s relationship with his peers.
- From time to time, he may have conflicts with friends that can undermine his self-esteem.
- He may be excluded from a group that he really wants to be a part of, and this separation can lead to dissatisfaction and loneliness.
During these years:
- Watch and supervise your child’s choice of friends, but don’t interfere with his activities.
- Meet the parents of his friends and share your observations about the children’s activities. In the event of problems in your child’s relationship with peers, support him, understand him and give the necessary guidance.
- When conflict occurs, try to understand how your child feels about it and what factors he sees as causing the conflict. Then discuss how to solve the problem and find ways to end the conflict together.
- Remember that the family cannot solve every problem with the child’s peers. For example, you can’t go onto the field and get involved whenever a dispute arises. However, you can support and guide your child by communicating your values and expectations.
3- Routine visits to the doctor for school children
- During these doctor visits, your doctor will perform several evaluations, such as height, weight, and blood pressure measurements, vital sign checks, vision and hearing exams, and a complete physical exam.
- The doctor will make sure that your child’s vaccinations are up to date and ask about your child’s diet, exercise habits, and sleeping patterns.
- In addition to evaluating a child’s physical health, the pediatrician also pays attention to his or her mental and emotional health. Discuss specialized concerns such as the teen’s school situation, relationships with peers, family problems, and daily stresses.
Encourage your child to have good personal hygiene habits. Some of these habits are:
- Shower regularly.
- Wash hands before eating and after going to the bathroom. This is a way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
- Brushing twice daily and flossing before bed.
By using these preventive measures, you can reduce your child’s risk of illness and injury, and thus reduce medical expenses.
4- Sports performance and the ability of school children
Don’t expect your child to learn everything very quickly and perfectly. Lower your expectations and let the child discover his abilities.
Visual and verbal training in short, regular sessions is a more successful approach.
Sports and complex skill activities require quick assessment of the situation, quick decision making and a high level of transfer skills. Examples of these advanced sports include football, basketball, hockey, volleyball, baseball, water polo, softball, lacrosse, and soccer.
However, children can learn the basics of these sports in their teens, but do not expect much performance in this age group because the development of complex memory and thinking patterns is still limited.
As usual, there are exceptions to every situation. If your child is one of those rare cases who learns everything earlier than other peers, you should be happy. But in this case, try not to overdo it and not put pressure on him.
In general, most school-age children should focus on developing basic and transitional skills and general and artistic aptitude.
5- Daily tasks for school children
The order of teaching for schoolchildren is necessary and necessary:
- Teach him to put his books and toys on the shelves and put the clothes in place.
- Providing plenty of facilities and having a well-appointed room is not necessary for a teenager. Try to arrange a room where your child feels safe and comfortable, can easily read books, listen to music and sleep well.
- As your child gets older and goes to higher levels of education, there will be fewer weekends and less time to spend with you.
- Sleep patterns are different for different children. It depends on how much sleep your child needs.
- Try to let your child stay in bed more on weekends and holidays. Especially if the child gets up early during the week.
6- Books suitable for school children
Let your child choose the books he wants according to his interests. They may be interested in various books, including sports, science, fantasy, music, and so on.
Talk about the books your child reads on his own and at school, discuss his favorite topics and authors. If your child’s favorite author has written new books, encourage your child to read them all.
Other types of books that children love include:
- Celebrity biography
- Books about children dealing with problems
- Books containing language games
- Mystery Books
- Science and fantasy stories
7- Activities outside the home
During adolescence, he will show interest in activities outside the home, including going to the gym, music, and spending time with his friends. Many of these activities require family support in terms of time and, in some cases, money. Also, the child may need the parents’ patience and tolerance because children will try different programs before finding hobbies they like.
In general, the family (especially the parents) should support the child’s interests, suggestions, and group activities.
8- Choosing safe games for school children
Here are some general guidelines for buying the right games:
- Standard toys should be labeled as flame retardant.
- Toys must be washable.
- Painted toys must be painted with lead-free paint.
- Technical materials must be non-toxic.
- Pencils and paints must be of high quality and free of toxic substances.
- Avoid even taking old toys from friends and family. Older toys may not meet current safety standards.
- Make sure that the volume of the toys is not too loud for your child. Some electronic toys can be as loud as a car horn (even louder if a child holds them directly to the ear) and can damage hearing.
