What kids NEED before academics

 

This.....seriously our kids NEED all this before academics.  Esp younger kids.  And your kids will be fine and even more resilient and internally motivated to explore THEIR interests.  

Parents, it is okay if DL isn’t working.  It is to be expected esp among younger kids.  Learning does not mean academics.  Learning is what our kids do not get enough of through their own self interests, exploration, and trial and error.  

Academics is given to them to follow what they are being told.  And now with DL, this is the time to step back and see what kids really NEED to support them during this global pandemic.  

If DL is a power struggle with your child, step away.  If your child needs to move while DL, that is actually very normal child signaling movement helps them focus.  Don’t squash it, embrace it.  No child learns anything by sitting still, watching and just “listening” period.  Empower yourself to know what your child NEEDS during this time.  Embrace how your child learns and is motivated to engage and let the child be the guide.  Our kids want to learn.  They are born curious.  Give them access to learn the way the that helps them thrive and want to learn more!  A school building won’t do this.  

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Rather than continuing to hope something improves, embrace this opportunity to be the learning partner with your child.  Plan a meal and cook.  Discover bugs in the garden then go research them.  Look at the night sky and then learn about planetary science.  Write a book together and include drawings from your child.  Find everyday objects in the house that are certain shapes, angles and have the child draw them.  Have left over candy, do candy experiments.......take a natural walk and find things that start with every letter of the alphabet.  Read read read read with your child, have your child read with you.  And then read some more.  This is what learning can look like when we take a step back away from boring worksheets that are not good for children anyway.  Do rock math.  Create a play scene rock quarry with toy trucks, have rocks, and trucks need to make a delivery of rocks....visual math concepts like this grow into learning and understanding.  Not just memorizing.  Make it all FUN!  As school should be anyway.....I’m pretty certain the pandemic isn’t going away anytime soon.  Waiting for things to improve while our children are still growing, developing and wanting to learn is missing out on a huge opportunity to keep them thriving!!!!  It is about dancing in the rain rather than waiting for the storm to pass!  Have fun with your children.  Enjoy this time with them.  See what ignites their spark of curiosity!  You might just be surprised.  Our kids are always surprising us.  It is great!