Put Your Kid Gloves On

 

Teaching your child at home is something that you should be involved in, i.e.; you should be keen on doing it yourself. First and foremost, it’s a relationship building exercise. It’s an opportunity to spend time with your kid and see how they learn and develop around the clock. As a parent, your advantage is that you spend more time with your kid than anybody else, especially when they are in their early years.

Egyptian mothers are notoriously known for their irritability when it comes to teaching their kids. The reason is perhaps they have an idea that so long as they, the mothers, have said something, their kids have necessarily understood it. Kids are generally smart and quick to understand provided they are taught in an age-appropriate manner. I might say something to my daughter in the manner I would normally speak to an adult, but then I don’t feel surprised if she doesn’t understand. I think about it and say it in a more child-friendly manner. Then she understands. It’s the adult’s responsibility to help a child understand. If a child doesn’t, it’s never their fault; it’s the adult’s.

Mothers need to be patient and exercise patience abundantly. They will lose temper sometimes, especially if they are not used to being patient while teaching their kids, but they shouldn’t feel guilty about it. They need to acknowledge it as a matter of course. That’s fine so long as it’s the exception rather than the norm.

My golden rule for teaching kids is this: when they can, they will. If a child is capable of doing something, they will do it, even without being prompted. This is because kids love to brag about what they know and can do. Don’t push them too hard if they seem to not understand a point or perform a task. In the beginning stick to what they are capable of doing to give them confidence. Highlight to them what they can do rather than what they can’t do well. When they have confidence, they will be motivated to learn. Motivating them to learn is the best thing you can do to them at this stage.

Remember:

·         When they can, they will.

·         Show them they can to boost their confidence and that will motivate them to learn.