Nearly all parents seem to experience anxiety and uncertainty regarding their choices and decisions with regard to their children. It is understandable, since they are endeavouring to get their ward ready for a future that none can reliably predict. We want to ensure that our kids commit none of the mistakes that we did.
However, often precisely this fear-led, albeit well-meaning approach wrecks havoc in the lives of parents and children alike.
1.Accept that one cannot be taught everything
Thus the focus better be on leveraging the child’s curiosity and learning drive. (I’m presuming here that most parents reading this are most concerned about academic learning). It helps to understand what will foster it and what are likely to come in the way.
2.Love of books go a long way
If academics means a lot to you then cultivating a love for books before your child starts finding fulfilment in gadgets will be a key step in the direction.
3.Reading is the way to your child’s heart
Reading to your child can also be a great way to bond with her, be privy to the way she thinks and feels… and that will make you a more effective mentor to her as your deep understanding of her will endow you with empathy, compassion and acuity.
3.Avoid early dependence on tutors/apps
Teach your child as much as and as long as comfortably possible. Delegating this task to an app or a tutor often ends in you having to monitor your child, the app and/ or the tutor.
5.There’s too much of everything!
More than time crunch, as a generation, we are facing the attention crunch. There are just too many good books, too many educational apps….In short, too many learning avenues. We will be better off accepting as quickly as possible that we cannot be everywhere trying to consume everything in sight.
So two things matter: saying a lot of no’s so that attention can be better focussed on fewer things that we truly value and taking time to choose those learning resources you will commit yourself to.