Educators line of work is really HARD work. They have to deal with different types of students every day and it gets especially challenging at the start of class. As little students get to familiarise themselves with their surroundings, some behavioural problems might arise.
As parents, you can work together with the teachers to minimize behavioural problems that can affect your child’s learning journey and social skills.
- Be a role model for good behaviour
Always be a good example in the eyes of your children. If you want them to treat others with respect, you should do the same. If you want them to be honest, show them how. The behaviour you practice at home is the same behaviour they would adapt and do anywhere they go.
- Reward good behaviour
You can based this with the behaviour rating they get from the teachers. Let them know that every positive behaviour is a job well done that deserves a reward. It can be their favourite dessert, additional 15-minutes screen time or whatever things that will motivate them to behave properly in class.
- Join your kids in doing activities that interest them
Show your children that you take an interest on the things they like. Ask them what they enjoy doing and what they want to learn while applying classroom principle. This is to incorporate their interest with learning and will make them excited to attend class and behave accordingly.
- Establish regular communication with teachers
You can talk to the teachers and request to inform you regularly about your child’s behaviour not just on the days they misbehave. For their good days at school, acknowledge that and praise it so they can push it to be habitual. And for the bad days, acknowledge it and work together to improve.
- Recognise that change in behavior takes time
Do not expect an instant change in behaviour after you have confronted your child about it. A progress deserves a praise and a good sign that they will be meeting your set goal anytime soon.
- Point out sharing among adults
Children often feel that you only look at their manners and how they behave. Show them that everyone’s behaviour is being observed as well. So when someone share something, acknowledge it too. For instance, you say ‘Daddy is sharing food with mommy. Good job sharing, Daddy.’ That is how you can ensure that they are not being watched out only for their behaviours.
- Give more attention to good behaviour
Give a lot of attention to your children when they are doing good and remove you attention to them when they do something you don’t like. With this you let them know when they are becoming unwanted hence they would avoid doing it.
Behaviour should be first improved at home. Teachers have their own behaviour management strategies too to ensure that disruptive behaviour will be managed accordingly and won’t affect classroom learning. Private primary schools in Singapore for example, carry out strategies such as behavioural observation, tracking student’s behaviour and conflict resolution to improve students with behaviour issues.