FEB 21- Highway DBN

Top tips for parents
to help them assist their children with schoolwork
With South Africa in lockdown and parents having to take responsibility for their
children’s schoolwork, Ponnie Moodley, director of Nkowa Education, takes a look at
how parents can help their children stay on top of their schoolwork.
Text: Bronwyn forbes-hardinge
Begin with goal setting
• Formulate a to-do list.
• Include school assignments and
home management issues and
chores.
• Having a general family and
individual lists will ensure everyone
contributes to keeping your home
organised.
• Prioritise tasks from most important
to least important.
Formulate a self-discipline
plan
Aim to make your child selfdisciplined
where they take charge of
their own education.
• Help your child to be intrinsically
motivated by encouraging and
praising them.
• List the maximum of five realistic
expectations and have them posted
on a wall for constant referral.
• Discuss incentives and rewards that are awarded at the end of the week as
opposed to on a daily basis.
• Make it visual and fun for young children, in order for them to be motivated and
inspired.
Address the needs of the whole child
The physical, psychological, emotional, social and cultural development will
impact the academic development of a child.
• Establish a sense of community and be aware of cultural nuances, accents and
body language.
• Giving clear boundaries, including what are acceptable and unacceptable
behaviour, will set the tone for family life.
• Model positive verbal and non-verbal behaviour, as children mirror adults’
mannerisms.
• Celebrate diversity and complement the different learning styles and
characteristics with appropriate activities.
• Incorporate different pathways to learning, integrate individual talents and
challenge our children.
Set up an ideal study space
Have a designated area for your child to study as it brings an academic
48 Get It • Highway • Berea • Durban North February 2021