We all want the best for our children and usually take an active part in making that happen. However there is something like over achieving the goal here where the homeschooling parent tends to go overboard. Are you an overbearing parent who does too much for their kids? Does that make them resent you and unwilling to do what you say? Here are some signs you need to watch out for.
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Praise is good, over praising is not
Children like it when someone praises their achievements, however they have a finely tuned sensor to know just when an adult is over praising them. They know their worth and if you are trying to get them in a good mood by telling them that they did an ‘excellent job’ when they know that in reality it was just an ordinary ‘good job’, its not going to work. Instead they are going to wonder about what you want them to do next. So mete out well deserved praise, but don’t think they won’t notice when you lay it on thick.
Set realistic expectations
You are not training your child to be an overachiever. You are trying to give them an education as you homeschool them. In keeping with your educational goals, try and be as realistic as possible. Don’t set you expectations too high and expect the child to meet them. At the same time don’t under estimate the child’s sense of self worth by setting very low goals and expectations. Find the right blend and have clearly defined expectations for your own self to set your educational goals on.
Be clear, concise and brief
Till a certain age children learn best when you repeat instructions. However as their cognitive skills develop they are able to handle more complex instructions and do not need them to be repeated ever so often. Unfortunately very often the homeschooling parent does not ‘grow up’ as fast as the child does, and tends to keep on frequently repeating instructions as they would when the child was much younger. This can upset the child who is trying to get more independent.
Article Inspiration: About Homeschooling
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