Friday, October 26, 2007
Is your home set-up for communication?
Many homes in western countries are designed for individual enjoyment. Nothing wrong with that. It's great to have places and spaces to go to as individual. However we need to be careful not to put too much space between family so that people rarely meet or interact. TV's and computers in bedrooms may prevent arguments but they also keep people separate.
Take some time to check out how often kids interact with you and each other. If they spend most of their time apart and little time together maybe it is worth taking a second look at how your home is set up.
Get a free chores guide as well as top tips to get kids ot help at www.parentingideas.com.au
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
It's not okay to be away
Students are skipping an average of three weeks a year of school according to recent data released relating to Victorian secondary schools.
While this data relates to secondary schools it would be interesting to view data from the primary sector. My hunch is that it would be just as high, if not higher.
I am amazed by the shift in attitude toward staying away from schoo that has occurred in recent years. Being sick is one thing. But I am hearing stories about children being absent from school for what in the past would have been NO EXCUSE whatsoever. Reasons for absences that I have heard lately include children:
Students are skipping an average of three weeks a year of school according to recent data released relating to Victorian secondary schools.
While this data relates to secondary schools it would be interesting to view data from the primary sector. My hunch is that it would be just as high, if not higher.
I am amazed by the shift in attitude toward staying away from schoo that has occurred in recent years. Being sick is one thing. But I am hearing stories about children being absent from school for what in the past would have been NO EXCUSE whatsoever. Reasons for absences that I have heard lately include children:
- Staying away to to celebrate their own birthday or a siblings' birthday
- Going shopping for clothes
- Spending time with a parent or relative
- Extended weekend
- Not wanting to take part in school activities such as sports as they don't interest kids
It is not just a matter of taking a day or two off here or there. It seems that there are serial offenders and that is the real worry. It is often the kids who can least afford a day off school who take the most time off.
There needs to be a shift in attitude toward school whereby learning is highly valued by parents. In fact, so highly valued that is not okay for kids to be away from school unless there are good medical grounds or extenuating, family circumstances.
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