How to Help Children Succeed in School

Education is a lifelong gift that empowers people to ultimately improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries, and future generations. Through the opportunities that only an education can provide, we can break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time.

I thank God that my children are so blessed that they have the opportunity and the means to get quality education.  Data says that over 100 million children in the world do not go to school and many instead of going to school, go to work.  I wouldn't want to waste this God-given blessing.  I want to help my children succeed in school.  Through good education, they would have more opportunities in the future to improve not only their own lives but their community and country as well.

As parents, how can we help our children succeed in school?

Show them that education is important.  I make it a point that I ask my children how was their school for the day?  what is their homework?  If I give them the impression that studying is not important, they will go ahead and enjoy themselves playing games and watching TV.  I don't mean that they don't get to enjoy themselves, but there is a time for everything.

Set regular time for homework.  The time my children spend studying is not fixed.  My first son usually takes a nap after coming home from school while my second son does not.  So my second son studies first and then when my first son wakes up, it is his turn to study.  1-2 hours of study at home usually is enough depending on how focused they are in their study.


Pick a place that has good lighting and fairly quiet.  Good lighting would help keep their eyes healthy.  The place should be fairly quiet so that they could think clearly.  Remove all distractions.  Turn off the TV and try to ask other members of the family to keep the noise down or do a quiet activity.

Having the necessary supplies and resources helps motivate the students to study.  So provide supplies like pencil, eraser, paper, glue, scissors, dictionary ready in one place.  If you can afford, buy text books and other informational resources.  If you can afford more, a computer with internet connection is most helpful in this age of information technology.


Lastly, set a good example.  I need to let them see me reading books so that they too would become book readers.  I need to let them see me using math whether in the family kitchen or in the grocery.  I can also help them to use their everyday routines to support the skills they are learning.

By the way, do you know that in the US, the ratio of books to children in middle-income neighborhoods is approximately 13 books to 1 child while the ratio in low-income neighborhoods is 1 book to 300 children?  If you want to make a difference and help provide children from the low-income group with books they can take home and keep, click on the banner below.

Teaching Kids about Money

Do you have kids? Do you think they are smart enough to handle money themselves?  Before I answer that question, let me share with you this video that a commenter shared.  It is about a research conducted to see what kids will do or buy when given some money.




I don't know how representative the respondent of kids were in this research.  Whether they were from a representative population of the class A, B, C or D. In any case, I do believe that kids are capable of learning how to handle money if they are properly taught how.

As for our children, we teach them the value of money.  We tell them that money is not something you just get easily, it is hard earned.  So, when we go out for shopping, when they find something that they want to buy, we ask them "Do you really need that?"  Early in childhood, they should learn what is a need and what is a want.  It doesn't mean that we don't buy them what they want like a food item or toy, but not all the time.

We also set them an example in wise buying.  They see that as I buy from the grocery, I compare prices and buy that which gives more value for our money, not necessarily buying the cheaper items. 

We also teach in small ways that if they want to have some money, they have to earn it either by doing some chores.  And when they excel in school, we reward them with some money instead of just giving them all those allowances. 

Lastly, we teach them to save - not just buy and buy and to give to the Lord.  As Christians, we see it to be important to teach them giving to the Lord as an act of gratitude to God's many blessings. 

How about you, how do you teach your kids about money?

Fruit and Vegetables Clay Models

Just wanted to share this project my son made for school.  They were asked to make fruits and vegetables out of clay.  They look nice, don't you think so?

It was a very good project, I should say.  It helps develop the children's creativity and their fine motor skills.  They also get to learn about fruits and vegetables.  Even my 3-year old daughter liked to name each fruit and vegetable.  As I point to each item, I even encourage them to eat these things especially the vegetables because they are healthy and nutritious.

This is a fun and easy craft that our children can do.  You can even use Homemade Playdough (click to find the recipe).

Parenting Tips: Building Character in Kids - How to Turn Whiners into Winners

Do you have children who complain and whine about all sorts of things especially school and chores? Do they say "I don't like to study, it is very difficult.  Why am I always supposed to do this chore?"  If yes,  then were on the same boat.  If not, I envy you.  To help us out in this issue, I'm reprinting this article How to Turn Whiners into Winners with Jean Tracy's permission.  Thanks Jean.

Is building character a challenge for you? Do you feel discouraged when your kids pout about chores like setting the table, feeding the dog, or doing their homework? Do they whine, saying things like, "You make me do everything, nobody likes me, and I can't?" Choose this Thought Stopping Method to help them change their attitudes.

I remember my grandmother's gripes and groans. Everything was terrible. Everyday my mother telephoned to encourage Grandma saying, "For Pete's sake, mom, look on the bright side." Even though my grandmother had been a beauty with plenty to be grateful for, she died an unhappy, lonely old woman. Don't let this happen to your kids. You have the power to build positive attitudes in your children. The key is Thought Stopping.

You are your child's best counselor. No one knows and loves your children the way you do. Because of your parenting role, you have the power to influence their attitudes. Not only that, you can change your whiners into winners.

Thoughts direct our minds. Like the driver of a car, thoughts decide where to go, how to get there, and how long to stay. Your children's negative attitudes are driven by their negative thoughts. Negative thinking can steer your children into feelings of helplessness, resentment, and laziness. Your task is to help your children choose the thoughts that steer them in the best direction. This is where Thought Stopping can help.

The Thought Stopping Method promotes positive attitudes by helping your kids:

* Realize that negative thoughts lead to unhappy lives.
* Decide to be a happy person.
* Choose positive thoughts instead.

The Thought Stopping Method is a process that:

* Recognizes negative thoughts when they occur.
* Stops them immediately.
* Switches negative thoughts into positive attitudes.

Because of your unique parenting position, you have the power to influence your children's thoughts. You don't need to lecture. You do need to sit down and discuss the Thought Stopping Method with your kids. By training your kids to develop positive attitudes, you are teaching them the formula for success.

Don't waste energy facing pouters, whiners and complainers after a hard day's work. Experience family joy, laughter, and co-operation instead. All it takes is guiding your whiners into winners. Teach Thought Stopping! You'll build character too.

Jean Tracy, MSS, "Granny Jean" publishes "Tips and Tools for Character Builders," her Free top-rated Parenting Newsletter. Subscribe at her web site http://www.KidsDiscuss.com and receive 80 fun activities to share with your kids.

Treat your children to our Thought Stopping Kit. It includes easy directions, a chart, an article, and rewards for changing negative thoughts into positive attitudes.

Jean Tracy,MSS, Northwest author and speaker, is a former teacher, probation officer, and child/family counselor.

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Jean Tracy, MSS
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Kids Play and Learn Proper Nutrition

My 2 daughters from time to time play this online game.  It is called "The Incredible Adventures of the Amazing Food Detective".  It is an educational game teaching about proper nutrition and healthy eating for kids.

I saw this from PrimaryGames dot com and bookmarked it for my kids.  I never really thought that they would love it.

The game features the amazing food detective who reviews cases of of kids and their health concerns like when teeth and bones are weak.

Through an interactive response from the player, he is taught what is the right action to solve the mystery or case.  As in the example above, he is taught to find calcium rich foods.

It is very helpful in teaching our kids the right kind of food to eat in a very fun way.  Try it with your kids.  It's a great way to start a healthy eating habit for our kids.