And They’re Learned at Home

We hear a lot of talk about teaching children basic skills but before kids can learn reading, writing, and arithmetic, they need other basic skills. Here are some important basics your kids need to know and how you can teach these skills at home.

• How to pay attention. Kids have an amazing ability to tune out anything they don’t want to hear. That’s frustrating enough at home but it can be even worse at school. Before you talk to your child, speak his name. Make sure he is looking at you when you speak.
• How to wait for something. We live in an instant society. Today’s kids don’t even want to wait for
  micro-waved food! Teach your child that some things are worth waiting for and set a goal for something your child would like. Make a chart to keep track of progress as you try to achieve the goal.
• Planning a job and carrying it through. Teach your children to finish what they start. Say things like, “Baking cookies was fun but the job isn’t over until we wash the dishes.”
• Knowledge of time. Teachers need to set deadlines and students need to learn to keep them. At home, give your child a set amount of time to finish a job.