Taking On the School

• Parents need to struggle with how much to push a child to master something versus letting kids figure out what they actually like. A balance is needed here. Avoid false praise and try to have the child reflect on their own accomplishments. There are likely to be struggles with helping kids deal with schools and teachers. Schools typically expect all kids to learn the same thing at the same time at the same pace. Not all children are ready to do things like reading at the same age. Some are capable of advancing much faster than the teacher’s selected pace. The public school mindset also expects compliance with the rules and giving the one correct answer in a low and respectful voice. There is also the conflict between learning for a test or grade versus learning as an expression of a child’s intrinsic interests. Be ready for tension between your goals and the school’s goals. Be willing to take the school on while you help your children enjoy their childhood. Trust your intuitions, judgements, and values and trust in your your child.

Share this: