Parents and their School-Age Children

"Children make you want to start life all over." -Muhammed Ali

The transition in going to school for a child can be a real challenge, especially if they have stayed with their parents at home previously. Most of the time, children start pre-school first in order to learn the basic socialization and basic skills needed for kindergarten.

I remember the day that I started kindergarten because it was very scary because I was with my mother more than I was with anyone else. Having to learn how to be around others and not rely as much on others was a difficult transition. I'm sure that it had even more of an affect on my parents though. I can only imagine when my little one begins school!

Who's child is this?

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile
"Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile
"Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child
"Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever."

-Author Unknown

This chapter also covers the idea of activities that children participate in and how parents can affect it. If a parent requires a child to take part in a specific activity it can possibly cause some hostility. Everyone deserves to be a part of something that they enjoy, child or adult. It also is possible that when sceduling activities for your children, you can "overbook" them. Children deserve time to be kids and without schedules. Time just to run free and be a kid.

When children begin school, they also face the issue of potential bullying which comes from a child's upbringing and their home-life in the first place. If a child is being bullied, he or she deserves to know that it is not their fault but at the same time, the bully is in obvious need of attention and that should be acessed as well.

This chapter covers a vast array of topics and it is even included how we attempt to mold our childrens nutrition. We, as parents, have a great affect on how our children choose their meals and how it affects their overall health. I know that I will personally attempt to help my children choose nutritious choices but I don't believe that a child should be restricted from the "fun stuff" either.

Things have certainly changed with the new inventions and advances in electronics. Children don't play outside like they used to. Their choices usually involve what kind of video game they would like to play. I believe that if we decide to take our children outside, they'll be more likely to want to run and play which is very important in many different areas.

We know that in American society, children often start school in pre-school in order to get ready for kindergarten which is the beginning of the school-years snd teaches them the basics.

Each country is differentt in it's opinions on how a child should prepare for for school and how much schooling a child should ultimately have. In Germany, they begin school much earlier, when a child is three or so and they take part for much longer.

When a child starts school, much of how a child reacts and interacts in school can impact their home-life and vice versa.