KidsTeensAbout

Does your child cringe every time you mention homework? If yes, then he/she must not be enjoying it. Irrespective of your child’s age, homework is a part of student’s lives since the beginning of formal schooling. Doing homework is good for kids as it reinforces the daily classroom teachings. It develops the child’s sense of responsibility towards completing their own work, help to follow directions independently, manage and budget time among work and play and lastly it teaches how to finish work to the best of their ability.

Homework is not entirely a child’s responsibility. If one or both the parents are involved, it is a positive experience for both, the child and parents. Taking interest in your child’s homework will let you find out your child’s strengths and weakness and what is being taught to them.

How can you help?

Fix a small corner in your house where your child does the homework i.e., some place quiet without any distraction and all resources at arms length.

Avoid changing homework timings everyday. Some kids will want to finish homework first (after a small snack) and then play or vice versa. Some might even start after dinner.

Help your child to do homework on its own. Explain where and how to find information, rather than just giving it to them. Do not do their homework for them. It’s your child responsibility.

Know your child’s teacher. Get involved in your child’s academic career. Attend PTA or any function that requires parent’s participation. Ask the teacher about your child’s progress and related concerns.

Make homework time a special time. Your child will look forward to show you his/her work and expect positive / constructive feedback.

Praise your child’s work, celebrate his / her achievements. Reward them suitably to keep their interest levels high. Help them find out their strengths and weakness.

Talk to your child’s teacher if you still have any concerns about the workload or your child’s progress.

Share This

Most children and teenagers use backpacks to carry the necessities of the school day.

Mary Ann Wilmarth, the assistant dean and director of the transitional doctors of physical therapy degree at Northeastern University in Boston said in a statement that backpacks that are overloaded and/or are worn the wrong way can cause problems for children and teenagers like injury to the muscles and joints leading to severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems.

Backpacks are designed to distribute the weight of the load between some of the body’s strongest muscles like back and the abdominal muscles. To choose the right backpack, here are some guidelines:

Ensure that your child uses both the straps to distribute the weight of backpack. This promotes well-aligned symmetrical posture. Carrying the weight with just one strap means that one side of body has to bear most of the weight.

Avoid excessive twisting and keep the trunk of the body stable especially while putting on and removing backpacks.

Backpacks should be positioned in an uniform manner towards the middle of the back, not extending below the lower back. A waist strap helps in distributing the weight of heavy load evenly.

Shoulder straps should be adjusted to allow your child to put it on and remove the backpack easily. Straps should not be too loose or tight. Your child should be able to move his/her arms freely.

The load in the backpack should be 10-15% less than your child’s weight. Put in only necessary items for the day. Heavy books or items should be positioned closest to the back.

Encourage your child to be active, teach them back strengthening exercises to promote better muscle strength, flexibility that makes carrying a backpack an easy job.

If you have to bend to pick up something from the floor with your backpack on, bend using both the knees.

Share This

The sighting of rain clouds with sporadic thunder and lightning announce the arrival of rains. Changing seasons affect the children as much as adults as it means time to pack up the roller skates, colorful hoopla rings and bicycles. Keeping their little angels busy indoors during monsoon is a daunting task for most mothers. These are few of the things that any mother could do to keep the young ones inside – dry, warm and happy.

Cuddle up with your kid(s) on warm rugs near the balcony or close to the windows to watch the pitter-patter. Teach your children to listen to the rain and its different sounds and appreciate the beauty of nature in many forms. Your kid will love to listen to your childhood rainy season memories time and again. Sip on hot chocolate and eat crispies to make it more fun.

Your child will be thrilled to make small colorful paper boats out of craft paper and float them in water puddles or stream of rainwater. Race with your child to create most number of paper boats.

There are numerous indoor board or card games for kids during those long rainy afternoons. Word games like scrabbles, pictionary, card games like Uno or board games like monopoly and snakes and ladder are popular choices.

Read out fairy tales, Enid Blyton or Harry Potter series. Rains are the best time to encourage kids to unleash their creativity. Encourage your kid to try their hand at poetry or story writing. Drawing and painting are great ways to keep children busy.

Children love to do the “big people’s job”. Involve them in daily household chores. Teach them basic cooking skills and let them try some fun recipes. Acknowledge their effort and time with a suitable reward so their interest levels stay put for the next time.

Enroll your kid in a class to learn a new sport or activity like gymnastics, yoga, dancing, theater, and ballet or learn to play a new musical instrument.

With a bit of creativity coupled with thoughtful planning, the rainy season can be as fun as any other!

Share This