by Dan Williams

Created on: November 15, 2009

Helping a child become a success in elementary school. What is success? Having the child make straight A's is not success. I am hear to assure you we need to define what success is before we move on to giving tips about how to excel in elementary school. Success, should be measured by the contentedness and how happy the child is with themselves. When this is accomplished all the rest will fall into place.

How do we instill good values, and self empowerment? Role modeling trust, honesty, and empathy. Showing good work habits, by instilling support with homework, and having the child show pride in their accomplishments. Over time this will snowball into a child who is pleased with themselves. It is very important to teach the child their decisions are good, and learn to deflect harsh comments, peer pressure like water on a ducks back. Children are scanning their environment at school. Who has the cool tennis shoes, the best backpack, and who is popular with the most friends? The importance of stressing the non-importance of these issues are difficult tasks. It can be done, however you are up against the media, peers, and skewed social values.

Social skills of honesty, empathy, and integrity can be stressed through examples of sharing, volunteer work, and helping the under served. take your children to a hospital to visit sick children. Bring them small gifts, better yet gifts you made together. Life teachings easily carry over to the school scene. Children watch parents all the time, how they interact, do thy help others, are they more into materialistic wants, how are arguments resolved? Please be aware the best social skills you can teach are everyday experiences within the home.

Compliment, compliment, compliment. Teaching your children they have positive attributes and are unique in their own way will slowly empower them into a strong self esteem. Do not fake it, mean it. Be sincere, and watch their strength carry over into the school year. When they struggle, encourage them to ask for help, explain to them how often as adults we ask for help. It is much easier to paddle a canoe with two people in it, rather than one. When one is solo in the game of life it is much more difficult. Start early in dispelling hubris, and teach the benefit of humility.

All values that you teach in the home will carry over into the classroom. You will not be disappointed, a happy child is a successful child. a strong child, is a child that gives to others more than becoming selfish. The grades will excel, and homework will not be a pain. Congratulate them on all achievements, the pay off is a maturing child, with great role models.

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