RE: Eight Year Old Gets It
August 30, 2012 at 12:25 am
(This post was last modified: August 30, 2012 at 12:33 am by Erinome.)
I don't know what it is I've done, really. I just spend time with them in conversation, I guess. I've never treated them like they're incapable of grasping broad concepts, and I've encouraged their questioning nature.
I always hated it when my parents said "because I said so!". I tell my kids why, and see it as a learning opportunity. Even if it's me telling them to clean their room, and they ask why, I always tell them something like, "It's unsanitary and unacceptable to have a messy room."
Sure, it would be easier to say "because I said so!", but what would they gain from that? I don't feel like I do anything that any parent couldn't do. It just takes patience.
I'm also pretty strict, but I do balance it with plenty of love, affection, and positive reinforcement. Our family motto is "Excellence is the only option", and I help them to achieve it by being heavily involved in everything they do. I'm in the PTO, I volunteer at their school two days a week, and have regular email conversations with their teachers. Some people say I'm a control freak, and I need to let them breathe, but I scoff at these remarks. I encourage their independence in all sorts of creative, age-appropriate ways, but I am on this planet to insure their success, until their ready to go off in the world without me.
I have one child who hasn't gotten off to a great start. My 4 year old daughter has been living with her illiterate father for 2 years, until recently. She came home telling me about how Jesus made all the bunnies, and all the trees, and sang "Jesus Loves Me". I'm not tripping on it, though. She's behind developmentally, and my focus is on getting her caught up on the basics before presenting her with hard facts about the realities of the universe.
Patience is key.
Nearly...
Technically, they're not expected to memorize it until the third grade. I kinda forced him into memorizing it now, because I know he's capable, and I want him to be ahead.
I've also made him memorize the 5 oceans, 7 continents, and 8 planets of our solar system. I was going to make him memorize all 66 moons of Jupiter, but I figured we'd get to that later.
He's doing well, though, and his teachers are fantastic. He has science lab on Wednesdays with one of my college professors, which is awesome.
I always hated it when my parents said "because I said so!". I tell my kids why, and see it as a learning opportunity. Even if it's me telling them to clean their room, and they ask why, I always tell them something like, "It's unsanitary and unacceptable to have a messy room."
Sure, it would be easier to say "because I said so!", but what would they gain from that? I don't feel like I do anything that any parent couldn't do. It just takes patience.
I'm also pretty strict, but I do balance it with plenty of love, affection, and positive reinforcement. Our family motto is "Excellence is the only option", and I help them to achieve it by being heavily involved in everything they do. I'm in the PTO, I volunteer at their school two days a week, and have regular email conversations with their teachers. Some people say I'm a control freak, and I need to let them breathe, but I scoff at these remarks. I encourage their independence in all sorts of creative, age-appropriate ways, but I am on this planet to insure their success, until their ready to go off in the world without me.
I have one child who hasn't gotten off to a great start. My 4 year old daughter has been living with her illiterate father for 2 years, until recently. She came home telling me about how Jesus made all the bunnies, and all the trees, and sang "Jesus Loves Me". I'm not tripping on it, though. She's behind developmentally, and my focus is on getting her caught up on the basics before presenting her with hard facts about the realities of the universe.
Patience is key.
(August 29, 2012 at 9:15 pm)padraic Wrote: FANTASTIC!
Umm did your father's head explode?
Nearly...
Quote:(I'd be sending a letter of appreciation and support to that teacher)
Technically, they're not expected to memorize it until the third grade. I kinda forced him into memorizing it now, because I know he's capable, and I want him to be ahead.
I've also made him memorize the 5 oceans, 7 continents, and 8 planets of our solar system. I was going to make him memorize all 66 moons of Jupiter, but I figured we'd get to that later.
He's doing well, though, and his teachers are fantastic. He has science lab on Wednesdays with one of my college professors, which is awesome.
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