Education and Early Childhood Learning

Helping Your Child Succeed

Provide your child with opportunities for more responsibility, freedom and choice.

• Respect your child’s growing desire for independence and decision-making. Remember that young adolescents often act before thinking about the consequences. The area of the brain in charge of critical thinking and decision-making is still developing in your child.
• Include your child in planning family activities. Let your child research and suggest places to go or things to see (ex: “We’re going as a family to the Forks for Canada Day. Could you please find out what shows are on the free stage so we don’t miss the ones we all want to see?”).
• Encourage your child to plan, cook, serve and clean up independently after a meal for family or guests. Provide lots of encouragement and tell your child what you enjoyed about the meal (ex: “That salad was delicious. You can make that again any time.”).
• Let your child choose chores and negotiate the times to do them. Give compliments when the chores are done.
• Encourage your child to invite friends into your home, and make the effort to meet the parents of those friends.
• Talk to your child about his or her interests and how they could lead to future opportunities (ex: “I notice you really like to work with tools. You might want to think about working on a dual diploma in your Senior Years [Grades 9 to 12], so you can learn woodworking and metalwork, along with academics.”)