There are so many options out there for school openings this year. It can get pretty confusing. Many schools are closed and are operating virtually, some are using blended learning, staggering days and having both virtual and in person options. Some are just opening with social distancing practices in place.
However, there are still things that we can do to ensure that our children succeed at school, whatever that looks like. Â Here are a few tips to help you do that:
Ditch the pressure
We all think that kids who have straight “A”s are guaranteed to experience success in life. But it’s not necessarily true! As parents we need to rethink our values. Sure good grades are important but at what cost to your child’s sense of self worth?  There are many people who did not do well in school but have achieved greatness in life such as Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs. You may even have some childhood friends who didn’t experience success in school but went on to experience success in life. Your child’s gifts and talents are not limited to the confines of the classroom, and may only be after they leave that they truly begin to flourish.
Focus on learning what you love
Parents often use grades as a litmus test of classroom success. They may ask questions like:
“How did you do on your test?”
“Why didn’t you get an “A”?
“You need to study more to get good grades!”
Instead, talk to them developing a love of learning  which encourages curiosity:
“Was there something interesting you learned today?”
“What piqued your interest today in school?”
“You learned about the different parts of your brain? You’ve always been interested in how your body works!”
Every once in a while be sure to tell your child, “I care more that you enjoy learning than you getting good grades. It’s really important to me that that you find something that interests you and want to learn more about it.”
Ironically, the more we let our kids know that their grades are not everything, the more they will take school seriously themselves.