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We have a lot more power and influence over our child's experience of school than we realize. There are a few fairly simple things you can do that will make all the difference to the value and enjoyment your child will receive from his time at school.

General Attitude to School:

Make sure your child consistently gets enough sleep. This may sound unrelated, but the effects of getting enough sleep reach far beyond not feeling tired the next day. A child who is consistently getting enough sleep is able to concentrate better, which means he will be more accurate in following instructions, and considered to be showing "good behavior".

Children unconsciously copy the significant adults in their lives. If you have a good attitude towards school and homework, your child is more likely to enjoy it and to have the same attitude. When you ask about his homework, ask him out of interest rather than to check that he's done it.

Become aware of what you say about school and homework in front of your child, he may assimilate it. "They give kids too much homework these days" can plant a seed in a child's mind that becomes a resistance to homework - regardless of whether there's too much of it.

Bulling:
The most powerful asset a bully has is the silence of his victim. Not reporting bullying is usually based on a fear of repercussions from the bully, or embarrassment from the reaction of a parent, and sometimes a combination of both.

Getting Your Child to Tell:
Promise your child that you will never go to the school and complain if he really doesn't want you to. It's easier to convince your child to allow you to report the problem, than it is to get him to tell you about it in the first place.

Let your child know that the attitude that it's not "cool" to tell, or that it's "cowardly" is the reason bullies get away with their behavior. In real life, if someone commits a crime against you, you report it to the police. It is absolutely acceptable, and in fact "grown-up" to tell.

Helping Your Child Deal With Bullying:

Find a sport your child enjoys. It needn't be the usual - if your child doesn't like football, try rock-climbing or karate. Having a sport he's interested in will increase self esteem, which decreases his chances of attracting a bully.

Enroll your child in a self-defense class. Encourage him to tell the instructor about the kind of challenges he's having with bullying at school, and ask for tips on dealing with those specific issues.

The best assets you have are, your own attitude, and your child's trust; as long as you know what's going on, you have a chance to find a way to deal with it.

Learn more about this author, Odille Rault.
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