It’s almost that time of the year where children are going back to school, some parents are running around to prepare all the basic necessities needed for kids to settle in on their new grades.
To other parents, it doesn’t matter how much they prepared in the previous year, they still do need the help of teachers to make sure the needs of their kids are met in school.
According to Ms Andy Walaza, a teacher from Manyano High School, school readiness is very important at the beginning of the school year. “Parents need to ensure everything that is required for a child in terms of stationery and uniform is ready. What is even more important is understanding your children’s academic year, what they need to improve on and what assistance they need moving forward to the new grade. Focusing mostly on improving their subject codes by having a study plan in place at the beginning of the year and making sure to get a tutor if needed,” says Ms Walaza.
There are many aspects to consider in making sure your kids’ academic year is prosperous. One other thing to consider about preparing your kids ready for school is their wellbeing and mental preparation.
“Some kids experience frustrations at school mainly because they don’t have the right tools for example, stationary to work with or the right school uniform to help boost their confidence amongst their peers. It is important to prepare everything for your child to start a new academic calendar and make sure they are mentally and emotionally ready to go back to school. One other thing some parents seem to take for granted is teaching their kids about freedom of speech. We might take freedom of speech for granted when it comes to kids, but it is very important for them to express themselves to their teachers when they don’t like something or be free to confide in their parents,” says Mr Mzonke Matshaya a teacher from Isiphiwo Primary School.
Some people might think it’s only up to parents to make sure that kids are doing good and transitioning well in school. Mr Mzonke also advises that teachers also have a responsibility to make sure that there isn’t favouritism amongst learners. Teachers should also not call their learners by anything else but their names or last names in the classroom to maintain fairness.
Also see: What age is it safe to give your kids access to the internet
