Educationist tasks parents on development of ward, children

Educationist tasks parents on development of ward, children

Mindset

By Veronica Dariya

Bwari (Abuja), June 13, 2024 (NAN) An educationist Ms. Roseline Yuhe, on Thursday advised parents to pay more attention to the educational development of their children and wards.

Yuhe, also the proprietor of Berries World Montessori School, Bwari, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bwari, Abuja.

She reiterated the need for parents to get involved in the performance of their children.

Yuhe said that constant talking to children, encouraging exercise, curiosity and exploration, thinking through problems and solutions together were parts of necessary tools to raising a smart child.

She said: “Encourage your kids to see learning as a process, and that hard work encourages results; let them know that they will start as novices but gradually become better over time.

“When they are presented with hard tasks, they should see them as opportunities for growth instead of seeing themselves as failures.

“Don’t solve your children’s issues for them, instead, encourage them to focus on a single goal or problem and figure out how to achieve or solve it through creative thinking.

“This act stimulates the brain and teaches them that they are capable of working through obstacles on their own.”

Yuhe said that not only does physical exercise make children strong and healthy, but would benefit them mentally, built their brain cells and increase blood flow to their brains.

She added that these processes helped boost their confidence and increased their urge for learning at an early stage.

“Preschoolers are naturally curious but that inclination can decrease as kids get older, unless it is practiced and encouraged.

“Start by engaging them in topics that are of personal interest to them, even if it involves their favourite YouTube star or set of action figures.

“Ask questions to spark conversation, share your own interests explaining why they are appealing to you and you can also plan experiences like trips to museums, sporting events, or the movies.

“These will help you find mutual likes and inspire new discussions,’’ she said.

Yuhe asked parents to begin talking to children as infants, whether or not they understood what the sophisticated words meant.

This, she explained was key to getting their mental wheels turning and eventually, use context to figure out the words after listening severally.

She also said that teaching them to read books early would help them develop faster.

“Reading is a huge predictor of school success, so start reading with your babies long before they know what the words mean.

“Reading stimulates the brain; it builds a knowledge base about the world, and acts as the foundation of all future learning, including math and science.

“Make sure books are easily accessible in your home, model good reading habits by making sure your child sees you reading often.

“Talk to your kids about what you’re both reading to build conversational and reading-comprehension skills,” she said.

The proprietor said that being proactive as a parent was key and not waiting for new learning opportunities to present themselves to children.

According to her, parents must seek out activities outside of school that will help develop the different mental muscles of the children.

She, however, advised that parents must create snooze time for their young ones, as it was essential that children got the proper amount of rest regularly.

“Set a bedtime for your child and stick to it, follow the recommendations of pediatricians which are at least eight hours per night.

“With this time, not only will your children be more alert and ready to learn, they will have much happier attitudes,” Yuhe said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

DVK/DE/AMM

=======

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Abiemwense Moru