https://episodes.castos.com/64063b9346f5f0-85323018/1821511/c1e-25zjki8vpkqt6donk-6zdx3r24i3mw-sxqojg.mp3
2024 | Week of August 26 | Radio Transcript #1581
After enjoying Wisconsin's beautiful summer, all school-age children will soon be returning to their formal education. Approximately 86% of children will attend public school, while the remaining 14% will attend private school or be home-schooled.
This statement bears repeating, but it bears emphasizing again as the new school year begins: God holds parents responsible for their children's education, not the educational partner they choose to help them. If you are not homeschooling and the educational partner you choose to help with your child's formal education makes some mistakes, God does not shift the responsibility from you to that partner; He still holds you responsible.
Now, with that being said, it's also up to the parents to make sure their kids are ready for school, especially if they've chosen a traditional school, whether public or private, as their educational partner. And that doesn't just mean making sure they have a backpack stuffed with all the items on the school-issued supplies list. Of course, kids need those things. And they'll need new clothes and shoes, too. But this year, if we're really going to have our kids ready to learn, we need so much more.
A few years ago I came across an interesting article by an interesting author, Victoria Pruday, who is, of all people, an occupational therapist.[1] In that position, she works with all types of people and situations, some of which are children who benefit from her services. Prooday's online article, “Why kids are bored, impatient, easily irritated and have no real friends at school,” is full of great insights and helpful tips for parents who want their children to have a really good school experience.
Prudy says that in his 10 years of clinical experience, he has seen a decline in children's social, emotional and academic functioning, and that trend continues. This was before the COVID-19 pandemic. His argument is that today's children are coming to school “emotionally unengaged.” “Parents' emotional responsiveness is the primary source of nourishment for children's brains,” he says. He identifies five areas that contribute to this situation and offers advice to parents:
The first problem area is too much technology, and it is often used incorrectly. Her advice is to be a parent and limit technology. Connect emotionally with your kids without technology. Play together, write notes on your kids' backpacks, have family dinners, play board games together. She doesn't include this, but I do. Worship and pray together as a family.
The second problem is that kids have everything the moment they want it. My advice is to train your child to wait. Make them wait until they get what they want, and gradually increase the time between “want” and “have.” Avoid using technology in the car or at a restaurant. Teach your child to have conversations and practice waiting quietly and patiently.
The third problem area is not letting your children rule your world. My advice? Be an adult and set a schedule and stick to it. Set limits and boundaries. Think about what's good for your child in the long term, not just what makes them happy now. Feed your child good food. Resist the temptation for quick but unnutritious meals. Set a bedtime schedule and stick to it for your child's sake.
The fourth problem area is that not everything is always fun. Our advice? Teach your kids to do mundane, monotonous tasks and show them how fun they can be. Household chores like folding laundry, putting away toys, cleaning their room, or cleaning the garage are great training opportunities.
The fifth problem area is the limited social interactions that children today have. The solution is to put children in situations where they have to interact with others, in addition to other opportunities: Sunday school, junior church, sports teams, family reunions, etc. Teach children to say please and thank you, to share, to take turns, to give genuine praise, to accept winning and losing gracefully, to ask questions about others, and to be genuinely interested in them.
From his own experience, Prudy concludes that when parents change, so do children. Amazing. The power of parents. Good parenting is intentional and purposeful. It certainly takes time and effort, but surely it's worth it for your child. After all, mom and dad are not only responsible for their child's education, but you are also the ones who decide whether your child will succeed or fail. What will this school year hold for your child?
Julaine Appling of the Wisconsin Family Council reminds us that God said through the prophet Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
[1] http://yourot.com/parenting-club/2016/5/16/why-our-children-are-so-bored-at-school-cant-wait-and-get-so-easy-frustrated