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Surviving the Education Merry-go-round

Why, oh why, can’t our politicians stop meddling with the education system? Last night the news reported that Michael Gove, had made yet another change to the A Level system. Of course he mean well, they all do! All education ministers believe that they have been put on this earth to finally give our children the education they deserve. Only they can see what’s wrong with the current system and only they can make the the changes that are going to put it right.

Weather these changes will improve the way our children learn, we cannot of course be certain, only time will tell, but what we can be sure of, as sure as we are that the sun will rise in the east and set in the west, is that very soon there will be another education minister, with yet another set of ideas about what must be changed and the merry-go-round will be turning once again.

For as long as I can remember governments have been doing this. They simply seem incapable of leaving well alone. I’m not saying that there aren’t times when the system does have to be altered, but I cannot believe that the series of whole sale changes, that we have had to live through over the last two decades and more, has been beneficial to anyone other than the politicians themselves.

Certainly it makes the lives of those of us trying to bring up our children even more stressful and confusing. We know that getting a good education, is probably going to be the single most important factor in ensuring that our children will have happy and productive lives, so we obsess about getting it right. It would be lovely if those charged with governing us could help us, but far to often they just get in the way.

In the circumstances, it is hardly surprising, that more and more of us, are now employing our own A Level tutors at home, to help our children get through their vital exams. More than ever getting good grades is vital to getting the right start in life, and we will do anything to make that more likely. That may or may not be a good thing, but it is certainly a fact of life, and we all have to accept it.

How To Win The The Schooling Game

I was having a a conversation with a friend the other night, and we got around to the subject of our children’s schooling. Our sons are respectively 6 and 7 years old, so it might seem a bit early to be thinking about which secondary school they should be going to, but as many of us know the sooner you start thinking about this problem the better. Just entering a child into a primary school may effect what secondary schools they can get into.

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When does “loving” become “smothering”?

Every single mother on this earth knows that nothing compares to the unconditional love that you give to your child. You know as soon as you hold them that you would do anything for your baby, your child. Although it may not be the hardest thing to now when they’re young, letting go at an early stage is necessary for a healthy relationship. I’m not saying to detach yourself, just don’t be too overprotective of them.

Whether you have a little girl or boy – perhaps you have both – they will want to play and have fun. Remember that your little one is new to this world, and he/she will want to learn as much as possible (for now anyway). As a baby or toddler, your infant will want and need to explore their body and environment, so let them have some time to themselves to do this.

But do not stop spending valuable quality time with your child, spend all the time you can with them – they’re not that cute forever! Take them for walks, treat them to sweets and stay and watch their favourite TV shows with them, but when your little one crawls along the carpet with his tiny hands and feet, don’t follow him. Let him play with his building blocks and enjoy some alone time away from mummy.

So love and cherish your baby girl or baby boy. Love them as you will and help them grow into their own person. Don’t be the parents who want to be there for his first date, but equally don’t be the ones who don’t show up to any of her school plays. Babies and toddlers are very forgiving of such mistake, so you have some time to learn. Just be the parents your child will love and thank for your help and kindness.

Let them Breathe

For most mothers out there, their baby is the cutest, smartest and the best thing that ever happened to this world and nobody can argue with them. Children have a unique capacity of learning and the more you encourage their brain to think, the better it will be in the future. Toys that require logic and associations will help them develop their thinking process, but while you should encourage them to evolve, don’t forget that they are children. It is understandable to want them to succeed in this fast paced society we currently live in, but they have a long way until they reach the age when all the worries start to come, so let tem enjoy their freedom.

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Single Mum

Being a mum is not as easy as one may think, but it is definitely something very rewarding, which will make you feel happy and satisfied, once your baby grows older. One of the most important things a mum has to do is to shape her baby’s character, even since he or she is a little toddler. There is nothing more important than allowing your child to become a stable, responsible person and everything a mum does pushes the baby into this direction.

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Choosing The Right Baby Toy

So your bundle if joy is finally here and running the household already. But now you want to find them a good toy that is not only educational, stimulating, but also entertaining. There are many products on the market and you may find yourself overwhelmed and highly concerned about making the right choice. So how do you go about buying the right toy for your baby? Here are some thoughts.

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Divorce – How to Ease Your Children Through this Situation

The old statement that divorce is toughest on the children isn’t just an empty saying. For kids, the home as well as the daily presence of mommy and daddy is their only reality. That home is really all they have recognized since delivery so when it is abruptly split apart by separation and divorce, that will become the greatest trauma for the child’s lifestyle. Therefore it is recommended that both mom and dad think through the direction they will take to help their children emerge from the separation and divorce period with as little negative effect as possible.

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The importance of alone time….

With many moms and dads working full time jobs these days it is often difficult to find time to spend with the family, never mind making time for oneself. For busy parents, those with difficult babies or children, and especially single parents finding some time to take a break is an absolute must. While it may be difficult to think about spending more time away from your child ultimately it will make for better parenting.

Taking a break from being an employee, parent or spouse is beneficial for all in many ways; it helps to reduce one’s stress levels, rejuvenates and provides opportunity for much needed down time. Many parents believe that this means taking a night out away from the children, this is not true. What constitutes alone time varies among individuals. For some parents it is being able to do groceries or run errands without having to bring the children along, whereas for others it is an evening out to the movies and dinner. Whatever the preference actually taking the time is what’s most important.

In order to facilitate making time to get away may require the hiring of handymen to take care of the simple chores that might otherwise take up any of your free time. Having someone come and mow the lawn, clean out the gutters or repair the leaky sink may cost a little money, but it allows both moms and dads the time to spend with their children therefore, (hopefully) reducing the guilt that naturally occurs when parents think about taking time away from their kids. Being a parent is a full time job and a trying one at times. Taking time to catch your breath every once in a while will help to make the difficult times more bearable.

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One thing that is easy to forget is just how easily your own emotions can have an impact on your children. Young toddlers especially will pick up on emotions that they can’t fully understand or process yet and will act out accordingly. Many parents don’t even know it, but their mood can have a significant effect on their toddler’s development which is why it is so important to understand and confront your own feelings on a regular basis.

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Good Parenting – Being Skilled And Talented Is A Must?

It was only after I had a baby that I discovered that I had no skills that I could pass on to my child on my own. I could not sing, dance, stitch, sculpt or paint – I just knew how to work as an accountant but that was useless for my young child? Thankfully, I realized this when my baby was very young and managed to join art classes to improve my skills.

Why is it important to possess such skills? What is wrong if a young mother cannot sing for the child? Well, I am not going into the right or wrong aspect but I felt that I should be a position to pass on some skills to my child on my own. I always had the option of sending my child to art classes to become a painter. However, I felt that I would do a better job of improving not just my child’s art skills but also his or her confidence and self esteem by being a teacher myself.

I also discovered that I could easily take a few hours out of my schedule despite having a young baby at home. I just had to manage the feeding time right and I could focus on my art classes without any difficulty. This also gave me the encouragement to become a work at home mom to earn some money for my child without any difficulty.

Of course, I have a wonderful time trying to teach my young toddler how to paint. I do not know whether I have talent but I can confidently state that my young child has a lot of interest in playing around with colors.

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