Answered by Team ParentCircle
Dr Nithya Poornima, a renowned clinical psychologist, and a member of the ParentCircle Advisory Board, answers questions on how to make this academic year fruitful for your child.
Q. My nine-year-old daughter usually attends keyboard, chess, and painting classes after school and enjoys all of them. If she pursues all three, do you think we are overburdening her?
It would help to have a conversation with her about what she enjoys about each of these after-school classes. This will give you an idea about which of these activities she may look forward to, more than the others. Also, remember, it is perfectly okay to allow her to simply play the keyboard on her own, paint by herself, or play chess with someone, instead of attending classes. Pursuing creative activities without an agenda or outcome can sometimes help children stay emotionally healthy.
Q. My seven-year-old's screen time has increased. While I am struggling to control it, I wonder how I can make it productive. Any suggestions for good shows for primary school children?
As you mentioned, it is important to choose appropriate content when there is increased screen time. Shows such as Ask the Storybots that answer questions through songs and skits can be a good option. You can also try Spirit Riding Free, which is about characters leaving their hometown and attending a riding school. It can help teach your child values, the importance of friendship, and more. It may also be interesting to see how your child responds to Malgudi Days.
Have conversations with your child about what she watches, including questions like, "Which character would you be? If you were in this episode, what would you do?" Do not correct your child's responses or load her with information. Try to encourage her to share whatever comes to her mind and be accepting of it. And finally, do remember to balance screen time with appropriate and adequate physical activity, rest, intellectually challenging activities, and household tasks.
Q. My nine-year-old son loves sports and has been attending cricket and tennis coaching for almost two years now. But these classes have stopped now, and we do not know when they will resume. I would like ideas to keep him engaged during this time. I also want him to pick up useful skills. Any suggestions?
It is quite challenging to find equivalent alternatives to cricket and tennis coaching. But there are some things you can do to fill this gap. You could consider providing your son with a basketball hoop so that he can continue to exercise his muscles and improve his hand-eye coordination in a manner slightly different from cricket or tennis. You could also look at some traditional games and identify a few that your son will find interesting and useful. For instance, your son can try to learn how to spin a traditional top or play five stones. Your son could also try something completely different like learning to use a hula hoop. While most of these games can be played solo, you can talk to other parents, and your son and his friends can try a new game that they all agree on, and they can share their experiences. That will add to the fun of the whole experience.
Q My daughter is in Class 9. She performs reasonably well at school but does not excel. She loves reading and spends her evenings after school reading a variety of great books. I know reading is to be encouraged. But sometimes, I wonder if she should spend more time studying. What do you suggest?
Your daughter is at a developmental stage where her mind is inclined to expand, and reading is a wonderful facilitator for the same. It may even help her relieve any stress that she is feeling otherwise. She may be finding reading a much more pleasant task than effortful studying, and hence the preference. Start a conversation with your daughter to understand her perspective. Thereafter, you could follow her lead to see if she needs any assistance in her studies and then help her with that. You can also help her balance the time she spends on studying and reading in a way that is meaningful for her. Make sure you share your concerns with her while equally expressing your appreciation for her reading habit and your confidence in her abilities.
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Struggling to balance academics and extracurriculars for your child? Discover practical tips and expert advice to help your child thrive both in the classroom and beyond!
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