Promoting a Successful Child

“School readiness means each child enters school ready to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences that best promote the child’s success.” That opening quote was taken from a movement called Kentucky School Readiness Ready to Grow… Ready to Learn… Ready to Succeed. 

This movement focuses on three core groups: 1) Health and Physical Well-Being, 2) Emotional and Social Preparation, and 3) Language, Math and General Knowledge. Indicators have been established for each group that allows the parent, family, friends, daycare, school, and community to aid in the success of our children. Is there anything in this world that you want more than to see your child succeed in life?

Another important quote from this campaign is, “These indicators represent the hopes and aspirations for incoming students, not the expectations.” Hopes and aspirations, those words alone bring ideas to life. What can we do today that will promote our child’s future? Under each group are targets to set for the child, guidelines to work toward, and goals to achieve. For instance under Health and Physical Well-Being is the point, “eats a balanced diet”. Are you doing the best you can to ensure your child is eating healthy? Does your child live off fast food and snacks all day or do you prepare daily home cooked meals that include all the essential foods required for a child’s healthy balanced diet?

Under the Emotional and Social Preparation, group we have the point, “is curious and motivated to learn”. A child’s brain thirsts for learning much like a sponge. They absorb knowledge extremely fast and have a great need to learn. We, as parents, grandparents, and teachers, need to be alert and promote our children’s desire to learn. Understanding how the brain develops will enable us as caregivers to stimulate growth. The University of Harvard’s study on Three Core Concepts in Early Development is an excellent resource to help us help our children.

The Language, Math, and General Knowledge category is a point of great stimulation to a child through music, reading, television or play. When television is brought up in connection with “child” it brings much controversy. Television in itself is not the problem. Television used correctly, under adult supervision, may be a tremendous learning tool. It was not meant to be a babysitter. A child needs interaction. Limiting the amount of time spent in front of the television and monitoring what the child watches can greatly benefit their growth and development. How TV Affects Your Child, an article by Kids Health, is a good resource in learning how we need to change our television habits. Educational TV is good, but too much time in front of the TV is not. Introduce the child to the history channel, wildlife channel, and public TV.  Learn how to monitor show ratings and use the V-chip in your television. Spend time as a family watching shows that stimulate your child’s growth.

A parent is the first teacher in a child’s life. We must spend our time wisely; encouraging growth and development for the success of our child.

Belinda @ Kids Matter