Q: What can I do to make sure my child behaves properly in school? I try hard to monitor his behavior at home. But I can’t be sure about what happens when he arrives at school.
A: What happens at home affects what happens at school. And although you can’t be with your child in the classroom, there’s plenty you can do to ensure that he behaves properly there.
For example:
- Get off to a good start. Your child’s school day begins at home, so start it on a positive note. After breakfast, give him a hug and tell him that you love him. By the time the bus pulls up, he’ll be feeling great.
- Pack a healthy lunch filled with nutritious, energy-rich foods. It will help him concentrate in class and keep him primed to learn.
- Adopt an after-school ritual. Set aside 10 to 20 minutes to do nothing but listen as your child talks about his day. Don’t check email or text messages. Don’t start dinner. Just be there for him. If he has a problem at school, he may want to talk about it now.
- Give your child a quiet place to work, and then let him get busy. Don’t hover. Show him that, just like at school, it’s important to work independently at home.
- Be a partner in your child’s education. You and your child’s teachers have his best interests at heart. So be a team. Don’t make negative comments about the teacher in front of your child. It may cause your child to lose respect for the teacher.