It’s a busy life we all lead for sure. I found myself overwhelmed the other day with the amount of housework that needed to be done. You can call it “spring cleaning” but much was the same during winter, fall and summer. The tasks in each room were numerous. Multiply that by the average number of rooms in a house and I felt I just could not begin. So I didn’t!
I went shopping and then watched a movie. There was some guilt, I must admit, but soon I was engrossed in these enjoyable tasks. After my mind was distracted for a while, I noticed that when I looked at each room (where I saw needed tasks before) I saw a strategy that allowed me to tackle the work that needed to be done. I decided to take one room, one cleaning task at a time and finish it. Then I would move on to the next room. Now I was concerned that by the time I got to the last room the first room might need cleaning again. How would I solve that problem? I decided to start with the room used the least (less chance for dirt to accumulate faster) and finally move on to the room used the most often.
There will be those of you who will identify with my scenario above. Now I want you to place a similar dilemma on your child in school. Completed tasks are needed in one subject and then multiply that by the number of subjects, or classes. I can assure you that many students feel just as I felt—overwhelmed. There are many demands on children both school related and personal. It is our responsibility as adults to help them maneuver through them. Understand, also, that when your child chooses to play instead of doing some assignment they may just feel “overwhelmed”. Their brain may just need to reset. So doing something enjoyable with fewer expectations involved will provide them that opportunity for a “reset”. (Doesn’t the computer sometimes need to be re-booted? Yes, let’s re-boot those brains!)
Of course there is always a deadline for assignments so time limits on the “re-booting” are necessary, but with our encouragement and guidance most students will have the opportunity for success rather than frustration.
Comments are welcome at sklafter@tutoringplus.net.
