How to succeed in school

Posted on 23 December 2019

Why is it important to encourage your child to get involved at school? Why is it important to teach your child how to succeed in school?

No one said school is easy. Away from home, away from mom and dad, in an unfamiliar place surrounded by strange faces – this can be a scary thought for any young child. But in this environment, outside of their comfort zone, children learn like nowhere else.

According to the Department of Health, young children require a comprehensive approach to education, with the active participation of their parents and caregivers, in order to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential.

This approach is known as early childhood development (ECD).

The World Health Organization defines ECD as all physical, socio-emotional, cognitive and motor development between nought to eight years of age. The importance of this development can’t be overstated: this is the period in life when the brain develops most rapidly and has a high capacity for change. In this period, the foundation could and should be laid for health and wellbeing throughout life.

This is why children need nurturing care: expert guidance, within a stable environment, that is sensitive to children’s health and nutritional needs, with opportunities for early learning and interactions that are responsive, emotionally supportive and developmentally stimulating.

School provides all of these.

An early childhood development environment helps your child develop the ability to communicate with others, solve challenges, the capacity to regulate emotions and control impulses, and use small and large muscle groups by prioritising different forms of play.

But to benefit from everything school has to offer, it helps to help them along.

Children often need a little encouragement to become fully engaged or involved at school. At the very least they will look to share the experience with you. Work alongside them to stimulate their imaginations and lift their spirits as they process this challenging time.

Organised school activities are designed to encourage your child to explore and express their own interests and imagination. Achieving small milestones or successes in these shared occupations can lift their self-esteem and foster an optimism around their abilities and learning in general.

Learning a musical instrument, for example, offers a tactile and multisensory way to master a variety of fine and gross motor skills. Ever heard of the Mozart effect? Science shows children who are regularly exposed to music grow neural connections that help with brain development and cognitive thinking. Playing sport is equally beneficial in other ways, as it helps your child learn about advanced concepts – fairness, the benefits and limitations of a natural competitive instinct – while getting outdoors and having fun with new friends.

Drama, arts, even the seemingly simple act of reading: these activities stimulate curiosity, teach empathy and empower your child to grow.