The Scholastic Parent & Child’s April issue is packed with great stories that will help parents and kids start off the season on the right foot!
The Power of Defeat: Raising a kid with Grit – As difficult as it may be to watch our kids fail, it’s an important character-building experience, and builds “grit”. Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., is a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania who coined the term “grit” in reference to a child’s strength, character, and drive to succeed. She says that the ability to bounce back from failure matters more to a child’s ability to reach his full potential than intelligence, skill, or grades. Here are a few ways to help kids build grit:
- Put a Challenge in Front of Him – Encourage them to try something new that they are not necessarily good at. Taking risks is an important way kids learn.
- Promote Perseverance – Many people hold on to the idea that skill comes naturally, which sometimes leads kids to give up on things as soon as the going gets tough. Insisting that kids follow through with an activity until at least the end of the season or session will give them more time to push through the learning process and discover their progress.
For more, check out the full article
Counting Down to Test Day – It’s standardized testing time, and the pressure is on for kids in classrooms across the country. There can be a lot of anxiety associated with this time of year, so here are a few ways that parents can help their kids prep for the big day:
- One Month Before – Put your own anxiety in check, ask your child how they are feeling about the test, and address any fears. Implement an earlier bedtime so that your child gets into the habit of getting a full night of sleep.
- One Week Before – Add some physical activities to the schedule this week (like a family bike ride or a drop-in karate class) that will help them sleep better and relieve stress.
For the rest of the tips, check out the full article
Q&A: “Would you dismiss your kids from school to go on vacation?”
Hinda Moskovitz, a fourth-grade teacher in Baltimore, told Scholastic Parent & Child that if you choose to do this, you should be sure to get information on what your child will miss from the teacher. She also recommends setting aside 20 minutes each morning during your vacation to work on schoolwork, using the plane ride to catch up on assignments, and turning vacation into a learning experience through journaling or handing over the map.
