A consistent schedule for home and school tasks is a key to establishing life-long work habits. This includes:
* setting up meaningful jobs (emptying the trash, setting the table for family meals, feeding pets,carrying dishes to be washed, straightening bed covers, etc.)
Individual value increases when all members of the family unit contribute to the family’s well-being. Family is our smallest and most important community.
* establishing family meetings
Weekly meetings to share individual concerns and kudos also binds the family unit closer. Having an equal voice, regardless of age, is important.
* creating family homework hour
Stopping the hectic life we lead for an hour an evening helps students understand the importance of ‘work’. Surely an adult has a book to read, a hand-project to complete or some task that is best served by a quiet hour, ie. no electronics. If not, the time can be spent supervising/being available to support student homework.
* building responsibility for own library books, homework, papers to be returned to school, etc.
Responsibility begins Day One when student begin using backpacks and transporting papers to and from school. If you set up a place beside the door that you leave through each day, a small carpet square, a table space or a tub on the floor, your child can place that eternal backpack there each evening and be ready to pick it up when leaving for school in the AM. The more you ‘rescue’, the longer your student will expect you to rescue, and the longer you’ll be resuming responsibility that isn’t yours.
* sharing school, personal and family successes and ‘atta boys’ as well as extra effort attempts
Take the time to honor best efforts, awards, successes and individual family moments of pride. This can be done during the family meeting and might expand to include a family bulletin board of honors and accomplishments. Go ahead. Share your important moments. We all need pats on the back!