Tip of the Week
“I’m talking ’bout the man in the mirror”
Hope springs eternal this time of year. Students are returning to school with new school supplies, a clean slate, and likely some excitement and nervousness for their step up to the next grade. With a fresh start, many students are hopeful that this will be the year it all clicks and comes together. However, hoping for a different outcome without making changes is unlikely to yield different results. Hope needs a partner: action. Whether it’s adjusting routines, seeking additional support, or setting new screen-time expectations, if something wasn’t working last year, help your child identify what needs to change and take action.
“I’m going to keep better organized this term” is a good idea, but it’s not a plan. Better is: “I’m going to set aside time on Sunday nights to go through all my binders and file away loose papers where they belong and recycle papers I don’t need anymore.”
“I’m not going to procrastinate” is a great goal, but it’s not realistic. Procrastination is managed, not fixed. Better is: “When a large assignment is given, I’m going to take a few minutes after school to review the directions and break it up into smaller, more manageable, pieces.”
“I’m going to spend less time on YouTube/Tik Tok/Reels/Snap/etc.” is brilliant, but it’s amorphous. Better is: “I’m going to ask my parents to help me set screen time limits on YouTube/Tik Tok/Reels/Snap/etc. to 90-minutes per day total. If/when my homework is complete, I can ask for more screen time.”