2022 Education magazine

2022 Education Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS February / March 2022 Page 25 learning process outside the classroom, not merely to get the best grades. Getting homework done in a pattern early each day means your child develops good habits rather than learning procrastination. Review the finished homework with your child. Homework not done is a parental failure. 12. Limit screen time and monitor what your child is seeing on iPads, television, phones and computers. Watch with whom your child is communicating. Everything you allow and do as a parent must be done with the wholistic welfare of your child in mind. Research the latest protective technology measures for devices regularly. 13. A family meal around the table encouraging conversation and the healthy interaction develops good social skills. Discourage solo eating sessions and eating in front of the television. Dinner time is when you often find out what your child thinks and feels. Model your best person at the table. 14. Choose positive personal nick-names for your child related to their best behaviors and attitudes to add a little playfulness to your relationship. Greeting your daughter by calling her “Miss Beautiful Sunshine” may sound corny, but it conveys your love and leads your child inductively to positive feelings, attitudes and values. Avoid calling your male child “My Big Man,” or anything that leads to wrong thinking. A male child will grow into a man when your child becomes an adult, not before. Change up the nicknames based on what is going on in your child’s life, their challenges, their fears, and their experiences. Calling your male child “My Brave Boy” may instill needed courage to go through tough challenges. 15. Always be available to listen to your child. The positive attention you pay your child will let them know that they are valued. Making an appointment with your child helps set the example of how to get personal time and favorable attention when the immediate moment is not available. 16. Introduce each of your children to your best chosen adult friends as the most valued, treasured child in your life, without being corny. Complimenting your child honestly in front of other people helps develop good self esteem and confidence. Empty or false compliments lead to developmental failure. 17. Your child will need discipline. This is a big one. Always make corrections when you are calm and can speak with a non- judgmental tone. If a child is out of control try using distraction. Be novel in your approach. When your child is calm ask what they are feeling. Encourage them to say rather than act out feelings. Speak openly about real disappointments and hurts. This learned behavior affirms the child and leads to the next step in maturation, the opportunity to negotiate. Continued p