I want to start revising with my child at home. The challenge I have is that whenever I attempt, my daughter thinks it is play time. How can I get her to get serious?  

Tina 

Learning is a life-long process. As a parent, you play a central role in your child’s mental growth. Before kids even attend school, they learn things like the language, certian habits and reading skills at home. Home-based learning doesn’t end when a child masters these skills but is continuous. 

To supplement what the teachers may be offering, it’s wise to arrange such private sessions with your daughter regularly. Special attention should however be drawn to the age and class of the child in order to choose the best method and learning time duration. Infants’ span of attention is much shorter and the method to use can be in play form. However, for your daughter to differentiate between revisions and play time, you can logically apply the following steps;

Encourage routines and timetabling. Days need to be organised into routines; bedtime, mealtime, waking up and going to school time. This can be hugely problematic for many children of tender age who still need mother love and intimacy, but this can be workable only if you become a little stringent and condition the kid to respect the designed schedule.

If a routine isn’t established in the earlier years it becomes much harder when this child grows older. However, some level of compromise is required to suit the child’s other activities such as playing with friends or watching television.

Teach your child to read for both content comprehension and examination purposes. If she makes a mistake, which she inevitably will, explain in clear terms how to properly solve the problem. Encourage her to succeed and reward positive behavior. Using a reward system will encourage the child to have the mindset to do it on her own. Kids have an easier time understanding complex material when being praised for the good attempt well-done.

A reading chart should be created for each subject where the topics to be learned and those covered are written down. Provide favourite meals to boost both her mental and physical abilities and ensure a conducive learning environment free from interruptions that may divert her attention.

The writer is a counsellor

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YOUR ADVICE:

Mutoni Sharp

Much as you should be close to your child, do not forget your responsibilities as a parent. As a parent, you must nurture your child without leaving her to be consumed by the world. Get tough on her when need be and you will see a change.

Jane francis Tusabe

Play with your children but always let them know the most important things in life such as education. Once your child understands this, she always listen to you.

Alexander Kayinamura

Let your daughter know that you do that to help her academically and that you are more knowledgeable than her. I’m sure she will adjust after understanding that.

Monica Mukakabera

Let your daughter know that there is always time for everything — work and play. Teach her the value of every minute in life and she will become time conscious. If she grasps this, the rest will just be very easy to work out.

Comments, photos by Pontian Kabeera

Next week’s problem:

MY CHILD ‘S PERFORMANCE IS VERY POOR AND I THINK HE SHOULD GO TO A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL INSTEAD OF A’LEVEL. HOWEVER, I’M SURE HE WILL PROTEST ONCE I SHARE MY VIEW WITH HIM. hOW CAN I MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S IN GOOD FAITH?