Helping Your Child
A few guidelines that may help you as a parent…
- Every child has a unique profile of talents, abilities and strengths. Discover where your child's strengths and relative weaknesses lie.
- Help your child develop their self-esteem and confidence, give praise and encouragement.
- Make time to talk with, and listen to, your child.
- Let them know you are proud of who they are and not just what they achieve. Don't let their talents become the centre of your relationship with them.
- Allow and support, 'failures' and mistakes - these are a necessary part of both growing up and learning.
- Discuss and talk through social situations - encourage your child to appreciate other people's points of view.
- Encourage them to extend their general knowledge - by watching the news or reading the newspaper.
- Be responsive to what they want, involve them in decisions about their lives, but be realistic and don't let everything revolve around them.
- Don't show your child off or expect others to acknowledge their abilities - encourage the child to be modest with their peers.
- Read with them, and to them, even if they are good readers. Continue to share and discuss books as they get older.
- Ensure that they help around the house with everyday tasks and build up practical life skills.
- Explore your locality to find ways to develop your child's interests eg libraries, art galleries, museums, clubs and interest groups. Involve their friends.
- Encourage physical activity to develop co-ordination and general fitness.
- Work in partnership with your child's school to meet their academic and social needs.
- Do not always focus on your child's obvious skills - give them the opportunity to broaden and extend their talents and interests. Encourage them to sample new activities.
- Be aware of the vast possibilities offered by technology, use computers for fun as well as extending knowledge and skills.
- Despite their abilities, they are children and entitled to a childhood - try not to pressurise them.
- Give them time to relax, think and plan their own time - do not organise too much for them.
- Look after yourself, these children can be exhausting as well as very rewarding.
- This page aims to give general information and advice to parents and families of a child who is gifted, talented or more able.
- Any concerns or worries that you have about your child's progress at school should always be directed to the class teacher and the school, in the first instance.
With thanks to Eduwight for the above information.
Exam Help Links
Key Stage 3
The sites on this page have not been approved by the school. They have been listed as a possible source of help for you over the coming months.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Default.aspx?Subject=11
We also subscribe to SAM Learning – an on-line learning support system. Your child has a password that allows them to revise and study across a range of different subjects. This is a valuable method of support.
Key Stage 4
The sites on this page have not been approved by the school. They have been listed as a possible source of help for you over the coming months.
Be sure that the topics on the site match the topics studied on your GCSE syllabus.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
A great site to help with most of your studies
http://www.gold.ac.uk/counselling/exam.html#exam
A good site for revision skills and exam nerve hints!
http://s-cool.co.uk/default.asp
Maybe something of use to you !!
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/
Another site worth a look – but be careful that it is your syllabus!
We also subscribe to SAM Learning – an on-line learning support system. Your child has a password that allows them to revise and study across a range of different subjects. This is a valuable method of support.
