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<?xml encoding="UTF-8"><html><body><div id="attachment_94144" style="width: 2570px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-94144" onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-94144" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u170058/pexels-pixabay-256417-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1426" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u170058/pexels-pixabay-256417-scaled.jpg 1616w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u170058/pexels-pixabay-256417-800x446.jpg 800w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u170058/pexels-pixabay-256417-320x178.jpg 320w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u170058/pexels-pixabay-256417-1536x856.jpg 1536w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u170058/pexels-pixabay-256417-2048x1141.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px">Source: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/text-on-shelf-256417/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.pexels.com/photo/text-on-shelf-256417/</a></div>Are your primary schoolers ready for their first school assessments, which may be weighted or unweighted?
In every school year, Term 1 is when students tend to be more relaxed. At the same time, parents may be too caught up in beginning-of-year transitions to keep up with their children&rsquo;s schoolwork.
However, students who tend to perform well are those who have started the year well &mdash; their goals and routines are in place, and they are already receiving support if they need it.
If this is not your child&rsquo;s situation, there is still ample time to get things back on track. For starters, you can work with your child to prepare for the upcoming school assessments, by doing the following:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Get your child a weekly or monthly planner, and ask him or her to note down the assessment dates.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Your child should be aware of the topics that will be covered &mdash; teachers will typically send this information to parents as well, and you can print it out for your child.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Together with your child, look through his or her schoolwork, to spot mistakes made due to:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Carelessness</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Forgetfulness or not having things memorised (e.g. spelling, second language characters, multiplication tables, math formulas, and science facts)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Not grasping concepts</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">For anything that your child doesn&rsquo;t understand, you will need to discuss how he or she can get additional help.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Set up a daily revision schedule &mdash; exclude days that are set aside for co-curricular and enrichment activities &mdash; and decide with your child whether to:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Do topical exercises</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Attempt practice papers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Redo tricky questions</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Memorise necessary information</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
To set up academic goals, ask your child what grades he or she would like to get, bearing in mind his or her grades for the previous year.
Work towards incremental improvements, and ensure that your child knows the success criteria, i.e. what it takes to boost one&rsquo;s grade. For instance, one can&rsquo;t simply write a &ldquo;better&rdquo; composition without knowing what &ldquo;better&rdquo; entails. Your child needs specific areas to focus on, such as minimising spelling and grammar errors, using more vocabulary words, or knowing the ways to craft a better introduction or conclusion. For best results, focus on making one improvement at a time.
If you are unsure about how your child can raise his or her grades, seek clarifications with your child&rsquo;s teachers, and ask for clear and actionable suggestions.
To support parents in the new school year, Singapore&rsquo;s Ministry of Education held a &ldquo;Starting The Year Right&rdquo; webinar last month. During the session, local parents shared their parenting concerns with the expert panelists. For those interested, the session is still available for viewing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=317959486312259&amp;ref=watch_permalink" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Facebook</a>,
Below, we&rsquo;ve highlighted pertinent questions that were asked during the session &mdash; along with relevant advice &mdash; for your reference:
How can I help my children to manage their time well?
Apart from the school timetable, you can create a timetable for kids to follow at home. Let your kids play a part in deciding how they would like to structure their day. For lower primary students, grouping or colour coding different types of activities (e.g. study time, screen time, and bedtime routines) may make it easier for them to refer to the timetable.
To help kids stay on task, phone timers will come in handy &mdash; your child can use them to track study times, or to set a limit on device usage.
But having a timetable alone is not enough. There should be consequences established for not adhering to the timetable, especially when it comes to screen time. Discuss what these consequences should be with your child, to give him or her a sense of ownership.
If your child&rsquo;s schedule is packed with after-school activities, it may not be feasible to have a strict timetable in place. Your busy child should have the autonomy to decide when to take breaks, and when to resume work.
Above all, do ensure that your child is well-rested. Read our guide to setting up <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/exam-strategy-fix-your-sleep/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good sleep routines for kids</a>.
My child seems to be taking a long time to complete homework. What should I do?
First, check with your child&rsquo;s teacher (and tutor) if your child is really taking a longer time to complete work, compared to other children of the same age.
If you are concerned that your child might have a learning disability, read our guide to <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/could-your-child-have-a-learning-disability-know-the-signs-and-seek-help-early/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">learn how to spot the signs</a>.
If your child does not have any learning issues, it could be that he or she is dealing with more distractions at home &mdash; from siblings, toys, and devices. You will have to teach your child good work habits, such as maintaining a tidy work space, and setting devices aside during work.
How do I encourage my child to bounce back from poor results? Or what if my child gets upset with mistakes, and doesn&rsquo;t want to try again?
The first thing to do is to reframe failure as a natural part of learning, and life. To help your child see this, you can say that &ldquo;FAIL&rdquo; stands for &ldquo;first attempt at learning.&rdquo; Also, let your child know that failure is not something that holds us back. Instead, it helps us to move forward, by giving us something to work on.
If your child is getting upset over mistakes in daily life, you will need to find out what is making your child sad or anxious. Is it a fear of consequences? Is your child a perfectionist? Through gentle questioning, get your child to identify and acknowledge these feelings, and work to help him or her change the negative thoughts.
A child might quickly give up on challenging tasks when he or she only wants to be set up for success, in order to receive praise or to be seen in a positive light. Learn to praise your child for effort, and not the outcome.
As a family, you can work towards <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/5-ways-to-transform-your-child-s-learning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developing a growth mindset</a>, which is the ability to see that we can work at changing our abilities and outcomes &mdash; nothing is set in stone.
How can I help my child grow into a lifelong learner? What goals should I set for my child, if there are no exams this year?
Lifelong learning begins when you enjoy learning for the sake of it, and the best way to teach this to your child is to model it yourself. You can pick up a new hobby for fun, or learn a new skill for career development &mdash; read our <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/working-parenting-and-studying-can-we-do-it-all/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upskilling guide</a> to learn how to balance work, family, and learning.
If your child is not facing exams this year, it&rsquo;s a great chance to focus on personal growth. Social development is one area that you can pay attention to. For instance, if your child is an introvert, you can encourage your child to get to know his or her classmates better, by speaking to one new person a day.
Even if there are no graded assessments, teachers will still be giving you feedback on your child&rsquo;s skill sets, and you can see if your child is meeting expectations, or if there is something that needs to be worked on. Do look at the non-academic feedback as well. For instance, in physical education, perhaps your child can improve his or her ball skills, or learn how to use the jump rope.
For more ideas on extending your child&rsquo;s learning opportunities, read our guide to <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/the-joy-of-learning-look-beyond-grades-to-set-goals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">looking beyond grades to set goals</a>.
My child is having nightmares and could be stressed. What should I do?
All parents should learn to recognise the signs of stress in children, which can include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Nightmares</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Physical symptoms such as tummy pain or a headache</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tiredness</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Finding excuses to miss school</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Becoming withdrawn</li>
</ul>
Stress can be triggered by internal or external factors, and it is important for you to take an honest look at your child&rsquo;s environment to understand the source of your child&rsquo;s stress. If you are certain that the stress is school-related, do let your child&rsquo;s teachers know, and ask them about your child&rsquo;s behaviour during class to compare notes. Teachers can help to mitigate the situation by reducing your child&rsquo;s workload, or providing extra support where needed.
Are you also worried that your child might be depressed? Read our <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/depression-dont-let-your-kids-suffer-in-silence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guide to childhood depression</a> and find out where you can seek help.
&nbsp;
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Start The School Year Right: Is Your Child On Track In Term 1?

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<?xml encoding="UTF-8"><html><body>It&rsquo;s time to look away from exam preparation classes, and consider skills that will be truly valuable to your child in the long run.
<h3><img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-56645" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/63712065_s.jpg" alt="Enrichment" width="450" height="300"></h3>
<h2>Storytelling</h2>
The art of <a href="https://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/five-tips-to-support-storytelling-in-the-21st-century/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">storytelling</a> is not about generating a high-scoring essay for school purposes&mdash;knowing how to use stories to engage and convince a reader/listener, a potential client, an interviewer, or an audience is a skill that will give one an edge in adulthood. People are naturally drawn to stories, and the ability to tell a compelling story in any situation is as vital for one&rsquo;s career as it is for building personal relationships.
Parents of younger children can look at storytelling centres such as <a href="https://www.thedimpleloft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Dimple Loft</a> (set up by local actress Joanne Peh), while those with older children and teenagers can explore workshops by veteran storytellers such as <a href="http://storywise.com.sg/storytelling/storytelling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sheila Wee</a>.
<h2>Public Speaking</h2>
For those hoping to take on leadership roles, <a href="http://www.theleaderinmeblog.org/developing-public-speaking-skills-students/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public speaking</a> has become an essential skill. It is &ldquo;the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-public-speaking-matters-now-more-than-ever-chris-anderson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key</a> to unlocking empathy, stirring excitement, sharing knowledge and insights, and promoting a shared dream,&rdquo; and with technology, a powerful speech can reach audiences far beyond the confines of a seminar room or conference hall.
A popular public speaking school in Singapore is the <a href="http://jcartercentre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J Carter Centre</a>. You can also contact local Toastmasters groups to find out about their &ldquo;<a href="http://www.tpctmc.org/join-us/#question4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavel Clubs</a>,&rdquo; meant for those under 18.
For those concerned about pronunciation, the British Council offers <a href="https://www.britishcouncil.sg/english/courses-business/workshops/interpersonal-communication/say-it-clearly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">workshops</a> that teens may benefit from. Former news presenter Norman Lim also runs &ldquo;Better English Pronunciation&rdquo; <a href="https://www.onepa.sg/trainers/lim-thye-kee-norman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">classes</a> at local community centres, catering for all age groups.
<h2>Debating</h2>
In our polarising times, the ability to listen to someone else&rsquo;s perspective, weigh the strengths and weaknesses of their argument, and offer your own point of view is what the world needs.
<a href="https://www.debateablekids.com/research-why-debate-is-so-important-for-kids.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Debating</a> builds thinking, listening, and speaking skills, and you can encourage your child to join a debating club in school, or look to enrichment centres such as <a href="https://www.therhetoriccollective.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Rhetoric Collective</a>, which offer debate training programmes. Another option is The British Council, which incorporates debating skills into its secondary school <a href="https://www.britishcouncil.sg/english/courses-holiday/secondary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">holiday courses</a>.
<h2>Critical Thinking</h2>
A broader approach towards enrichment could have far-reaching effects on your child&rsquo;s creativity, critical thinking skills, and love for learning. Enrichment centres such as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fromtinyacorns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">From Tiny Acorns</a> use specialised learning approaches (such as <a href="https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/meghan-everette/lapbooks-creative-engagement-purposeful-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapbooking</a>) that draw from different disciplines for a central purpose: to challenge your child to think and question harder, dream bigger, and articulate his or her ideas in a clear and confident manner to others.
<h2>Design Thinking</h2>
This is a skill that has gained prominence <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/home-design/design-for-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">locally</a>; it was also a directive in one of Singapore&rsquo;s national &ldquo;master plans&rdquo; for growth. Design thinking is about bringing together empathy and technology to improve others&rsquo; lives, and advocates such as <a href="https://www.thinkroom.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ThinkRoom</a> run workshops to help transform your children into compassionate and creative problem solvers.
<h2>Financial Literacy</h2>
Knowing how to manage one&rsquo;s money and plan for the future is a crucial skill in moving your child towards independent living. Unhealthy money habits could affect your child&rsquo;s personal development and relationships, while a lack of awareness about the different ways to generate income, especially passive income, could limit your child&rsquo;s financial potential. Enrichment providers such as <a href="http://www.moneytree.asia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MoneyTree</a> use games and other learn-through-play activities to help inculcate healthy money habits and attitudes in children.
<h2>Resilience &amp; Growth Mindset</h2>
Is your child able to deal with setbacks and push ahead? Is your child confident about his or her ability to learn and improve, at any age?
In our exam-focused academic environment, children can be easily discouraged and they may develop a negative self-image or a bleak view of the future. To combat this, look for emotional and mental health service providers such as <a href="http://positivefocus.com.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Positive Focus</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheOpenCentreSingapore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Open Centre</a>, which run camps and workshops to restore your children&rsquo;s enthusiasm for life and learning.
<h2>Nature Appreciation</h2>
As our children begin to conduct more of their lives on digital platforms, exposure to green spaces will take on greater significance, if you care about creating a generation that values nature and works to protect it.
Outdoor child-led <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/a-romp-in-nature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">playgroups</a> are gaining popularity in Singapore; some parents feel that such groups promote learning in a natural environment, as well as skills such as problem solving and healthy risk taking.
Parents are also hiring nature guides to learn alongside their children on field trips. A freelance nature guide who is popular with the local homeschooling community is Dr Leong Tzi Ming, affectionately known as &ldquo;Uncle Ming&rdquo; to his tour participants. To arrange a small-group tour with him in your preferred nature spot, you can contact him by <a href="mailto:banjarana@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">e-mail</a> or SMS (+65 9833 7507).
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