Welcome back to the Education Affect. When your children were first born, the slightest whimper would summon doting parents to their bedside. The full lung shriek, meant immediately drop what you are doing and run to their side, “I need you NOW”. When they were learning to walk, loving open arms were there, whether they trip and fall forward or backward on the multi layers of diaper padding. You are by their side even before you hear “I need you NOW”. When children are very young, we make it our business to hear and understand every cry and respond appropriately? Do you know when your child needs You “Now?” and more importantly when they need you MOST?
In the next few articles, we explore the Education Affect of responding to “I Need You Now”. From preschool to High School whether the “I Need you Now” cry is audible, nonverbal or seemingly nonexistent do you still hear?
Reminiscing about my early parenting days, just like many of you, I tried to be perfect. The first day of “big” school, he was pristinely dressed in creased pants, yellow plaid shirt, clean Keds and a very neatly shaved part in his brushed hair. I took him to school and walked him all the way to the classroom to meet the teacher and see surroundings that would hopefully keep the attention of my little treasure. I spoke to the teacher once per week, unless I got the dreaded call; “This is Mrs._____, _____’s teacher, can you please call me later”. Those calls are always returned sooner than later to make sure it was not an “I Need You Now” call. Does this scenario sound familiar?
Like many of you I did, I mean helped, with homework, attended every Under-8 soccer game, play, squeaky concert and gave standing ovations to artists whose buds might never open to full blooms. The audiences were packed with elementary school parents, responding to “I Need You Now”. Many of us have done our stint as Elementary PTA President, organizing spaghetti dinners and bake sales. I wanted to be a part my child’s education, to let him to know I heard “I Need You Now” and I would respond quickly.
What is the Education Affect here?
When our children are young we are very in tune to their cries of “I Need You Now” and often respond before they finish their request. The result is we receive loving hugs and adoring looks that make parenting seemingly worthwhile. However, as it relates to the Education Affect, especially the elementary years we have to be careful to balance our support. In Elementary school use all the teachable moments; talk with your child, play games to help them learn their colors and words, cook with them, share a project but most of all listen and observe them. Teacher’s dream of parents who make students get enough sleep and set boundaries at home that allow them to focus and follow multi step directions with respect, at school. Parents are the first teacher your child will have. You send us your first teacher and educators have to build on the foundation you have started. You do not have to have a PHD to build this foundation; it is the little thing that affects their learning the most, sharing, listening, reading and insisting on those precious uninterrupted moments.
The Education Affect of responding to “I Need You Now” in elementary school is priceless in producing socially adjusted, intelligent children. Next time, we will examine what happens as students get older? As they move into adolescence, they would like us to believe they Need Us Less! How many times have you heard “I got this”? Have you ever thought that “I got this” is the adolescent version of “I Need You Now…but I don’t know how to tell you”? Listen and discern the “I Need You Now” in your child and you will Affect your child’s education.
Gwynetta S. Gittens