Planning Ahead

ADvTECH Group • December 15, 2021

Parenting Advice

A woman is teaching a man how to use a computer.

Back-to-school shopping is an exciting rite of passage for you and your child. Getting new clothes, new kicks, new school supplies, a new lunch kit, and a new backpack can be fun. First off, check with your child's school for their specific supply lists. Then, compare the list of suggested items with what you already have and take it from there.

1. Are you kitted out?

It's no secret that our children grow like weeds, so the back-to-school season is a great time to review your child's school clothes and supplement with what is necessary. Your child's needs will also vary according to their age, gender identity, activity level, and of course, the season. Trinityhouse Schools uniform is a traditional style, incorporating a blazer and school tie. In summer, blazers are optional. Our pupils wear their uniforms with such pride. Contact the school for your nearest uniform store.

2. Pre-pack your stationery!

Let’s face it, we haven’t fully recovered from that thing we will not name, but in the context of our “new normal”, it is a good time to think about school stationery for 2022. If you're a seasoned parent with kids in several grades, this list can strike fear into any heart when done at the last minute. But do not fear, 2022 school stationery includes lots of practical (and sensible) options for grown-ups and is cool for our children. Buy those today and aim to save time (and perhaps money) before the big rush. Start with well-labelled or personalised items to ensure they stay with their original owner and don't get shared. A few options to consider are:

Takealot.com: Stationery Pack: Back-to-school Grade 1, R628.00
Takealot.com: Marco School Stationery Bundle Envelope, R319.00
Loot.co.za: High School Essential Stationery, R400.00
Typo Activity Journal, from R74.99 per book
Typo Desk Set, from R149.99

3. The sports talk

Often, sports parents ask questions about the common issues they experience with their children, including things like sport specialisation versus sport sampling, whether to play multiple sports during the same sport season, and travel leagues versus recreational leagues. These questions can be complex and tricky, even for parents who were once themselves young athletes. Therefore, it is important to have sport choice conversations with your children as the decisions families make regarding school sports are important, not only for sports growth but also for future life skills development. It is also important to make your child part of the decision-making process, as it will directly impact their lives.

It would help if you also were open and honest about the financial impacts participation in certain sports will have. Travelling, camps and additional coaching could potentially make your child’s dreams come true but also break your bank. Therefore, if you cannot afford it, say so upfront and choose an alternative that will make your child equally happy.

Try to stay positive, open-minded, and respectful as you engage in the decision-making process, and show your appreciation to your child that they are taking ownership of their choices. Be flexible with decisions and allow for a change after the season ends. In addition, your child is more likely to have a positive and enriching experience playing sports if you focus on being a good sports parent. Just be sure to refrain from applying too much pressure or setting unrealistic expectations on both you and your child. Open and honest conversations are key before the sports season begins.

4. The ABCs of subject choices

Choosing subjects at school is one of the most important parts of your child’s schooling as they take the first steps on the path of their potential future career. There is a lot of pressure to achieve academically, and sometimes the dreams we have for our children do not match what they want to do. Therefore, it is important to have a conversation.

Encourage your teen to talk to you about their ideas for a potential career path. Allow them to speak to the rest of the family, friends, and neighbours to get their views.

Ask them to do extensive research on what would be required for that specific career path, as well as the necessary subjects.

Although you want your children to look to the future and choose subjects that will help them towards a career they are interested in, they should also consider what they really enjoy and are passionate about. They are far more likely to succeed in those subjects than in the ones they feel they 'must' study.

Support your child as far as possible. Perhaps arrange a meeting with a career counsellor and consider an aptitude test. It is never too early to start thinking about tertiary education. Start with your child’s particular interests and investigate the courses available in those subjects.

The requirements for the National Senior Certificate are seven subjects:

4 subjects are compulsory: 2 x SA languages (the first as a home language and the 2nd as a first additional language), Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and Life Orientation.

Mathematics is a requirement for many university courses and career paths, so keep this in mind when opting for one or the other.

3 subjects have to be chosen from the approved subject list as supplied by the Department of Basic Education, provided the school learner attends an institution that offers the subject(s).

Suppose the three optional subjects are chosen correctly and carefully, with all possible factors taken into account. In that case, your child will have many career opportunities ahead of them and not just one.

Remember it is okay not to know at 15 what you want to be; therefore, keep your options open as far and wide as you can, but do the research!

5. Setting goals!

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

Approaching the new year offers us an opportunity to take stock of our lives and fix what we do not like. Whether it is our exercise routine, our tardiness, or even our tendency to procrastinate and leave everything to the last minute, there is always room for improvement for the coming year. We not only benefit from new year’s resolutions, but our children can also learn a lot about the value of setting goals and the self-discipline to keep them.

Teach this simple goal-setting formula: Goals usually start with, ‘I will’ and have two parts – what you want to accomplish and when you hope to accomplish it, e.g., for the little ones, it could be as simple as ‘I will brush my teeth, say my prayers and go to bed by 8 pm every night’. For older children, it could be the accomplishment of a chore, lesson or skill. Also, consider involving the whole family in bigger goals. The more public the goal is, the more motivated your children will be.

This allows for a broader range of encouragement to complete the goal. When you sit down to review your resolutions/goals, it is not a time for punishment but rather to be flexible and understanding. However you and your family arrive at your resolutions, the best part is that you’re doing it together and learning how to manage your role not only as an individual or as part of your family but also in the bigger world at large.

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