Written by Melanie Loxton, Primary School Teacher
This month we deviate from our normal format and discuss a few topics in answer to the question, “Does your child …?”. Some of these questions are adapted from a first term Life Skills assessment that we set for our Grade 2s. Older children should definitely be able to do the following:
- DOES YOUR CHILD know how to write their surname? (By the middle of Term 1 of Grade 2 we expect that they should be able to write it.) And even if they cannot write their address in full, they should be able to say it and know their street name and house number. But more importantly :
- DOES YOUR CHILD know an emergency phone number from memory? Our children have their parents’ numbers written in their homework books, but they do not always carry their book bags with them! It is a life skill that children start to memorise vital information and know their place in the world.
- DOES YOUR CHILD know road rules such as crossing pedestrian crossings when the robot is showing the “green man” or do they blindly follow you across without being aware of the rules? Do they know what the Orange light means? A lot of this type of information we assume has been taught in earlier grades or taught at home. We don’t always re-visit basics such as these, so if your child has ‘missed’ taking in some of the rules of the world around them, you will need to check that they are aware of how things work.
- DOES YOUR CHILD know how to tie shoelaces? Some of them are aware of the process but become ‘out of practice’ if they mostly wear Velcro or slip-on shoes. At school, children often need to change clothes for sports or physical education, or even just to take their shoes off in class on a hot day. Teachers do not have time to tie sets of shoe laces or undo knots! (And in winter it’s the neck ties!) Some children take so long that they actually miss out and fall behind when the rest of the class continues with their work.
- DOES YOUR CHILD pack their own school bag and sports bag? I know I have mentioned this one previously but it remains a bugbear. On swimming day my children quickly learn not to even think of saying “my mommy forgot to pack my…” and to change it to “I forgot to pack my…” As I always stress, this doesn’t mean you cannot supervise and check, but it is important for children to take responsibility for their own belongings.
- DOES YOUR CHILD know more than just the basic manners of saying please and thank you? Most toddlers get drilled in the art of saying their thank you’s but there is a higher level of manners that children do not naturally attain unless it is taught AND practiced. For example, in order to show respect for adults when answering them, does your child say ‘ja’ or “Yes, Mrs Whoever”? When asking for a question to be repeated, do they say “Huh?” or “Pardon?”.
When going through a door, does your child know that they should stand aside for adults or do they barge through while the adult waits? This last one is a very tough one for children to acquire. Often we teach the concept and they know the correct answer, but in practice they totally forget to stand back. It is really embarrassing as a teacher to be leading a line of children from one venue to another, and a grown up comes along who wishes to pass through the line, and not one child stops nor greets them.
Children are not born with manners! We have to teach and enforce them. Even upon arriving home from being out shopping with your children, they will race you to the door then fight you through it while you battle with the groceries! Do not just accept this behaviour as “children will be children”. Teach them from very young about respect and how to show it in practice. If you do this, your job will be easier later.
