Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of the month of June to recognize the impact of all fathers and father figures in their children’s lives. This Father’s day we sat down with a fellow Novaneer, Pascal Ombango and asked him about his experience as a father, the fears he had and the impact being a father has had on him. We also take this time to wish a Happy Father’s day to all father and father figures, we recognize you and we salute you!

We hope you enjoy Pascal’s heartwarming interview with us on his experience of becoming a dad.

 

Tell us about yourself and your role at Nova Pioneer?

My name is Pascal Ombango, a father to one cute child Christian Bellamy Ombango. I am currently the Associate Dean of Residential Life at Nova Pioneer – Eldoret Boys’ High School. I still consider myself new in the role but so far, the role has taught, stretched and brought a lot of joy and challenges my way. All in all, I have managed to pull through because of my belief in God, manager and colleagues. 

 

How would you describe yourself?

I would say I am highly favoured and loved by God. This has given me the courage to be extremely ambitious in life and it has mostly worked to my favour. Someone I know always refers to me as a go-getter, I think it has something to do with my ambitious nature.  

I am passionate about two things; my family and my professional/career growth. My family is my support system that trusts and depends on me. I am tasked with making sure that I never disappoint them or break that trust. Professionally, I am still putting all the possible pieces together to ensure that I continue growing, supporting my students and developing a healthy network with my colleagues. 

 

What does fatherhood mean to you?

Fatherhood is the art of bringing up a child in the best possible way whether they are your biological child or not. By being there for them whenever they need you. Being a responsible father means that you are doing the following;

• Availing the daily basic needs of your child i.e food, shelter, education, and clothing
• Instilling in them the acceptable moral values of life i.e respect, obedience, and humility
• Equipping them with the required life skills that will see them depend on themselves when time is right

 

Can you describe to us how you felt the first time you found out that you were going to be a dad?

Honestly, I was scared. I did not feel like I had what it took to take care of this new life as a dad. I have previously baby-sat my sister but my mum was fully responsible for her.  Now here comes a new baby that I am not just going to baby-sit, change his diapers or bath him,  I am also responsible for his feeding, sleeping, health, his coming in and going out, his safety and as if this were not enough, I have to make sure that he recognises me as his dad, be it through my scent, touch or voice.

I was very sure that I would love the baby as a dad should. I was just not sure whether I was ready for all that the baby would come with. Somehow, things have into place as they were meant to. He is almost four years old now and he has become a beautiful masterpiece life brought my way.

 

Do you believe in the notion that one has to be fully ready/prepared to be a parent or is it something one learns to be once they have a child?

I do not believe that there is a perfect dad or a dad of the year. I did not feel ready but I am confident that I am doing a good job so far because I learnt a lot of things once my baby was here. Sometimes, it just happens unexpectedly and you cannot afford to go missing simply because you do not feel ready.

A lot of the parenting skills that our fathers put in place are things they have learnt on the way either through their own experiences or by reading parenting books or magazines or by attending parenting workshops or conferences. You only need to be ready to learn how to be a good father.

 

What lessons has fatherhood taught you?

My parenting skills will be rated depending on how my child turns out to be. It’s upon me to make sure that I am rated highly by being a great dad. I don’t have to be a perfect dad for my kid to turn out well. There are a lot of challenges that come with fatherhood; if I miss a step today in my fatherhood journey, I make sure that I rectify it the following day. Some of the skills I have applied are things I have learnt along the way and I bet I am not doing such a bad job after all.

 

What were your biggest fears about being a dad?

My fears were and still are whether I will bring him up appropriately and accordingly. We have seen a lot of our fathers losing their children to drugs, crime, and bad morals. I am not sure if I am doing what needs to be done as a dad so my kid does not fall into any pitfalls but I can only hope and do my best. All I can do is ask God to guide me in my fatherhood journey.

 

What are your best moments on fatherhood that you did not expect?

The trust my son has in me is on an unimaginable level and this has brought about my best moments as a father. Due to his trust in me, when he was two years old, he would climb on a table and jump off it as he called for me , letting me know that he is on the table and that he jumping. As his father, I was always there to catch him before he could hit the ground. This is the highest level of faith I have seen in someone towards me. He knew that I would never let him hurt himself in any way. He has never tried doing that when I am not around because he knows that ‘daddy’ is not there to catch me. With this level of trust, I have to make sure that I never disappoint him otherwise, I would break this trust he has in me. 

 

There’s a joke told that the older we grow or when we have children, we tend to be more like our parents. Are there ways you have found yourself having similar traits to your parents and if so, how?

I don’t know about other fathers but I think it applies to me. I am more like my parents. I have seen my parents break their backs so I could have food on the table. I am not from a well off family and the fact that I have never slept hungry is a clear indication that my parents toiled to make me who I am today. I am like my parents because I wouldn’t want to see my son lacking food. 

All that I do, the commitment and the time I invest in my work is to make sure that I see a smile on my son’s face at all times and not tears because he is hungry or is lacking something. This is something I have clearly inherited from my hard working parents.  

 

How has fatherhood changed you?

I have become more responsible, keen to details and mindful of my son. One thing I always remember is that I am no longer alone and my son is here to stay and stick with me forever with this,  I have to be responsible in my expenditure and make sure that I avail to him every little item/commodity he will need, be it milk or bathing soap.  I am keen on details in the sense that I never ignore anything, for example, whenever he comes back to the house and tells me, ‘daddy my finger hurts’. I would want to know what really happened and if it’s something that needs urgent attention or not. I am mindful of my son. Like I have mentioned before, he is part of my life now and I always think of him in every decision or step I take.

 

What are your hopes for your son?

I am hoping that, God willing, he will be a God-fearing man, obedient, respectful and humble. As far as I am concerned, these are some of the key traits that we should uphold if we want to live long and see a better tomorrow, some of which entirely depends on my parenting skills. Additionally, It’s my prayer that God gives me the resources needed to give him a comfortable life and a good education.

 

What message would you like to leave for soon to be dads and dads during this Father’s day?

To all the to be and the current dads, it’s your day today. Feel proud because you’re going to be or you’re currently pulling out one of the heaviest tasks I can think of. 

Our own dads have done a good job in and through us and we are just returning the favour through their grand-children. We can do it. Do not tire, don’t give up. Happy Fathers’ Day!

“Everything you can imagine is real.” Pablo Picasso

 

We all know that there reaches a particular age where a child will be constantly inquisitive and wondrous about everything around them. It is not uncommon to be plagued with questions like why? Where? What? Who? When? How? All with an end goal of knowing more. As the children keep growing, this yearning to seek more and know more tends to die down.

Arguably, this could be a function of very many variables that creep up to play a more dominant role in the lives of children. Parents/guardians start being more granular about expectations, there’s an unsaid code from peers about what’s cool and interesting and what’s not. The unwavering pressure to conform and be cool and interesting has led to the stifling of creativity amongst most of our young people. 

On the 12th June 2020, we got together with Shakira (NP Tatu Girls, F4), Ari, (NP Tatu Boys, F4) and Lesley  (NP Ormonde Senior School, Grade 12) for the second series of Nova Pioneer Connect. We talked at length about creativity, it’s genesis and development, and the role it has played in finding that inner balance in their quickly evolving lives.

Click on the link below to catch the insightful conversation.

Since the inception of the first Nova Pioneer School, it has been our core mandate to ensure that we are availing the platform that enables each of our students to always lead a life with an inquisitive lens, always seeking for a fresh perspective and willing to ask the pertinent questions while articulating their truth with utmost inclusivity. 

 

Why Nova Pioneer Connect?

It is for this reason that we are excited to introduce  Nova Pioneer Connect Speaker Series. Nova Pioneer Connect will be a bi-weekly zoom webinar featuring a panel of our students across all our schools tackling some of the most pressing topics that speak to their agency as future leaders and responsible citizens who will play a proactive role in safeguarding our future as a country and a continent!

 

Tackling relevant topics

We can all acknowledge that it’s a particularly interesting time in the world to be alive. There’s so much happening at the same time. It goes without saying that all these events, situations will need our energy, attention, empathy, thoughts in equal measure. So we are left with the challenge of deciding what to focus on partially, fully or what to not give our attention to at all. True to the famous Greek philosophy of “Know thyself,” four of our High school students from the Tatu and Eldoret Campuses kicked off our inaugural series on 29th May with openly talking about “Finding our Inner Voice and Trusting it”. 

Hundreds of prospective parents joined Nduta (NP Tatu Girls, F4), Raphael (NP Tatu Boys, F4), Lynn (NP Eldoret Girls, F1) and Allan (NP Eldoret Boys, F1) in a hearty conversation walking through their journey finding their inner voices and what challenges they continue to face and overcome as they grow. 

Click on the link above to watch a recording of the session.

Look out for more info on our upcoming Nova Pioneer Connect Session on our social media!

It’s becoming increasingly important to talk about mental health challenges especially now that everyone, no matter what their situation, is struggling during this Covid-19 outbreak. It is an exceptionally hard time for us all. 

There are particular issues that young people are facing. There is a huge amount of loss for them. This is partly because the normal structure of their daily routines is no longer what it was and this may make them feel cheated and angry. It is difficult to know what to do with such feelings. For a small number of teens, these feelings may exhibit worrying behaviour changes like self-isolation, self-harm, vandalism, excessive negativity, pessimism, demotivation and laziness.

 

So what can a parent do when they notice their child is going through a mental health breakdown?

 

For starters, acknowledge their distress, find a way of letting your teenager know that you are aware of their distress and that you want to help. The aim is to ensure that they do not shut down and stay open to talk to you. Try to use terms such as: “I feel for you and am here for you”. I can see this is very hard for you” or “I want to help if you feel able to let me”. 

Reassurance is key. Let your teen know that whatever they say, you will not be shocked, angry or frightened by their thoughts and feelings. One of the fears that young people may struggle with is the idea that their problems will have a terrible effect on you. Find a way of letting your teen know that, however shameful or frightening their thoughts, you are strong enough to cope and will be there for them.

Another important message is to show them that you are there for them; your teen needs to know that you love them and that no matter what happens, you will do your very utmost to help. Teens need to know that you will stick with them, and you will not reject them because of the way they are feeling. If it is possible, think about things you can do together that will show them that you are there for them e.g. you can cook their favourite meal, do a chore with them. 

If possible, avoid pleading, criticising, lecturing or preaching to your teen. Let them know you are not judging them or their behaviour. Your teen might feel overwhelmed so choose your actions sensitively. The only way to open up communication is to find a way into their own agenda and to show that you will be really listening to them.

 

What if my teen is feeling suicidal?

The possibility of suicide is the worst fear of any parent.  It is incredibly hard for any parent to open up this topic. However, there are ways of showing that you won’t be shocked, and of showing that there are ways to get help if this is something the young person is struggling with. You might say something like: 

“I know people who are in distress sometimes think about ending it all. If you are feeling this way, please reach out, there are people you can talk to. I am here for you, if you feel unable to talk to me, there are others who will listen and try to help you”.

This does two things. It acknowledges the distress. It also shows that you’re not scared by the distress the young person is experiencing and you are able to give them the love and support they need to get through this. 

 

Can I ask for help? 

Sure, if you have a contact within the school system who may be able to give advice, definitely reach out for support.  You can also schedule a session with a mental health professional for further support. 

 

Getting the conversation started

Finding a way to encourage your teenager to talk is something you may want to try. Though they may not be able, or not want to talk to you,  if they can do so, that will be a good thing. Try to encourage them to talk at every opportunity. If the first or second attempt does not work, just make it clear that you are always going to be available to listen. Maybe you can keep the conversation general and informal, having chats when preparing dinner or watching a movie can help enormously.

You could express to them. “However hard it is, talking about your thoughts and feelings will help you.”  “I know it’s difficult, but it is worth having a go”. “Putting your thoughts and feelings into words really will help you.”  “You may feel ashamed, or worried about talking.”  “It may be hard for you to talk to me, but perhaps we can find someone else you can talk to.”

There is no right or wrong, you may not know what to say and that is okay too. Keep in mind that you don’t have to say anything. In a difficult situation, just being there, being available to listen may be enough.

 

What if the talking and listening is not working

For some, talking will not be enough. Firstly, it is essential for you to be able to set boundaries in relation to behaviour that is harmful to your teen or to others in the family. If you believe these boundaries are being crossed, try to get some help. If there is an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others, please contact a mental health care professional as soon as possible. 

 

Managing your own anxiety

One of the key challenges for parents who are at home with their teen will be to find a way of managing their own anxiety. The more anxious you are as a parent, the harder it will be for the young person to accept support. Young people worry about the effect of their distress on their parents. In most cases, they want to be able to protect their parents, no matter how troubled they are themselves. They also go through a stage when they want to keep things to themselves. This is a normal part of teenage development. Parents will be more able to provide help if they are open about managing their anxiety. It is important to think about getting support yourself if you feel you need this. 

This will be good for you, and will, of course, enable you to provide more help for your teenager.  

 

References:

https://nyulangone.org/news/checking-your-teenagers-mood-during-covid-19-pandemic

https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2020/03/supporting-children%E2%80%99s-mental-health-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

https://chicagohealthonline.com/how-covid-19-impacts-teens-mental-health/

https://www.familylives.org.uk 

https://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/7-ways-to-support-kids-and-teens-through-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

 

Written by Rosa Wambalamba (School Counselor at Nova Pioneer Boys’ High School – Tatu city)

Picking a school for your child is no easy task. We understand. 

The current global pandemic has undoubtedly made this decision-making process even harder. With a majority of restrictions in place to curb the growing cases of COVID 19, it means you cannot just pop into the school you’re interested in nor can you easily get the answers to learn more about the school. 

At Nova Pioneer, we understand how important this decision is to you and your family. That’s why we have created a Virtual Open Day. We wanted to give you the opportunity to interact with our school team to learn more about our enquiry based learning model. 

 

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should attend our Virtual Open Day

 

1. Join from anywhere

 

Whether you’re sitting in your lounge, the study or out in the garden, you can join our Virtual Open Day from your smartphone or computer. 

 

2. Interactive

 

Our Virtual Open Day is designed to be interactive.  We encourage you to ask questions during the presentation. And, if you need to discuss something much further, we’ll be happy to respond to your inquiries over the phone.

 

3. Tailored resources

 

We have made previous Playgroup to Grade 5 curriculum material available to parents not yet part of the Nova Pioneer family. Parents are able to access these learning materials here. In addition to supporting you in remote learning, the packs will give you unique insight into Nova Pioneer’s learning approach. 

 

4. Presentations by our Admissions team

 

Do you have questions about our learning model? Our Admissions team is available to answer any questions. What’s more, they will guide you through the enrolment process. They are there to support you by providing useful and specific information based on your grade and campus of interest.

 

5. Save time and effort

 

With a Virtual Open Day, you can learn more about our school campuses from the comfort and convenience of your own home. Simply gather the family around your device to participate.

We are here to support your family during this period so that you can make the best decision about your child’s future.

Are you ready to join our Virtual Open Day? Click here to RSVP.

Teachers play a very significant role in our lives. This realization hits so close to home when we acknowledge the belief and the forthright commitment some of our teachers have had in identifying and following through with the growth and development of our talents. There’s a much more profound appreciation for the teachers who were able to see in us what we might not have seen in ourselves.

The ability to recognize potential and go further to nurture and develop is something our Co-founder and director, Mr. Christopher Khaemba is widely known for. There isn’t a shortage of his former students spread across the world who laud him for his steadfastness in having an eye for excellence both inside and outside the classroom. For the 36 years, Mr. Khaemba has been in the Education space, he has built a legacy of excellence that still lives on in him and the thousands of students and teachers he has impacted.

You can read more about Mr. Khaemba’s journey on this article by the Daily Nation https://www.nation.co.ke/sports/othersports/Alliance-principal-Chris-Khaemba-score-A-in-sports-academics/1951306-5534712-npn4ocz/index.html

You are a Cabinet Secretary granted two minutes to speak about Covid-19 planning with President Uhuru Kenyatta – what do you say? 

Earlier this month on April 9, the closing day of Term 1, our Kenya Form 1 and 2 students competed in a pitch competition to propose their solutions to the Covid-19 pandemic. This competition was a culmination of their research project on Covid-19 which students completed at home after our campuses closed in March. Throughout the project, students studied the impacts of Covid-19 on global health and economies, learning about the history of pandemics, the science behind viruses and their spread, and the role of the media in helping (or hurting) public awareness and perceptions. This background research then prepared them to propose solutions to the crisis through their presidential pitches.

Click on the link above to watch the competition.

In the first stage of the competition, over 70 students posted their 2-minute video pitches on a learning platform called FlipGrid. Their teachers then selected the finalists from each homeroom, and from the homeroom finalists, school leaders and deans from each school selected the final Cabinet Secretaries from each school. These 17 school finalists were then invited to deliver their pitches live to a panel of judges from our Nova Pioneer executive team on Zoom, with the event live-streamed to YouTube. Judges then gave positive and constructive feedback to finalists on their pitches (at Nova Pioneer, we call these Glows and Grows).

As you can imagine, there were some challenges to live-streaming a digital event like this. Maintaining a consistent internet connection proved to be troublesome for some finalists. Luckily, we had their earlier video submissions on file and were able to play these in place of their live pitches. In all though, the event went smoothly with the judges able to see pitches from all finalists.

Contestants were judged based on the organization of their pitch, their use of supporting evidence in their arguments, their word choice and grammar, and their delivery. The winners in each category were:

• CS of Trade: Ibrahim Ahmed, Tatu Boys
• CS of Labour: Nicole Rono, Eldoret Girls
• CS of Transport: Samuel Birech, Eldoret Boys
• CS of Education: Rachel Munyi, Tatu Girls
• CS of Health: Abigail Achola, Tatu Girls

The overall winning school was Eldoret Boys, followed by Tatu Girls in second place, Tatu Boys in third place, and Eldoret Girls in fourth place.

While there could only be one winner in each category, all of our students delivered compelling, well-researched, factually accurate, and thoughtfully articulated solutions to the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrating our culture principles of High Expectations and Solutions First. You can watch their pitches on our YouTube page.

Given the success of this event, we are currently exploring ways we can have more collaborative competitions like this across our Nova Pioneer schools, including our primary schools and our schools in South Africa! 

Written by Kelsey Keech ( Global Director, Learning & Instructional Design)

Social Distance. Quarantine. Virtual Classroom. Fever Gun. Lockdown. Face Mask. Curfew. Zoom Meetings.  These are all words that in the last month most educators have shifted from rarely using to being part of their daily vocabulary. 

A French novelist Andre Gige once said, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”  For most of us, in our new normal we are currently in the middle of the ocean with no shore in sight.  This period is unprecedented, uncomfortable and uncertain and it is important to acknowledge that and allow ourselves the space to process it.  March 2020 is a month where life on The Continent and throughout the world became forever changed.  As a human race, we are left to grieve life as we once knew it and are tasked with rebuilding our new normal.  As educators, we are tasked with not only doing this for ourselves and our families but also for our students.  What story will we tell the next generation about what we did to shape a better future for them during this time?

The impact of the Corona Virus is universal.  This virus does not know nationality, nor tribe, nor race.  Where it does differentiate is along lines of socioeconomic difference.  As an education community, the onus rests with us to not leave children behind, to be their champions no matter their socioeconomic status.  The socioeconomic gap in education has the ability to widen significantly as we build a virtual instructional world.  These students are in more dire conditions than ever before and are at risk of being left far behind their more affluent peers as some students take the world of online learning by storm and others remain at home with no access, struggling to have their basic needs met.  I ask again, what story will we tell the next generation about what we did to shape a better future for them during this time?

We all have stories that illustrate this time for us – for me, a day I will never forget is March 17th, 2020. On this day, I had three different conversations, with educators on three different continents, all asking three different sets of questions about how we proceed forward for students:

 

• 8:00am EAT- Educator Group 1 – Have we ensured that all of our students have devices and data?  Do any adjustments need to be made to the new online timetable?  85% of our students were present in all of their online classes today – how do we get to 100% tomorrow? How are we ensuring that our culture principles are still a part of our students daily life? How are we going to ensure that we are able to coach teachers in the zoom classrooms?  How did online learning engagement go yesterday?  What can we fix today?
• 12:00pm EAT- Educator Group 2 – I hear we are going on full lockdown soon- do our families have enough water and food to get through it?  How do we raise funds to help?  There are 13 kids in that home where there is only one room – what can we provide to keep them engaged and learning during this time? How do we ensure that they don’t fall behind?  A packet will run out and where will the funds come from to keep printing them? How can we shift funds to make sure our kids at least have their basic needs met?
• 5:00pm EAT- Educator Group 3 – Why is everyone doing their own thing?  Shouldn’t there be a stance for all kids in our country during this time? Aren’t we one nation? Some of our kids can get online and some can’t. Is it really fair for me to just keep teaching online knowing that others are falling behind?  Isn’t this the definition of inequity?  

Three phone calls, from three different groups of educators on three different Continents with three different struggles came to my phone. Different, yet similar in that all were rooted in the idea of what does this new world means for our students. What does our support need to look like for them?  What is doing right by them?  The questions of equity versus equality on every call quickly bubbled to the surface. 

I have been asked the question – ‘Is Africa far behind the rest of the world in education in this new world?’.  The truth is not at all.  On many occasions, the innovations that I am seeing in certain schools on The Continent are far surpassing what I am seeing Stateside.  In this new world order collectivism is proving to yield dividends in ways that individualism cannot.  As we discover the new oceans that await us on the other side of COVID-19, we must ensure that our humanity rises to the forefront and not allow our children in the lowest socioeconomic brackets from across the world to fall behind and widen the already wide learning gap.  As you continue to lose sight of the shore I challenge us to discover new and more equitable oceans in the process.  I ask you one last time, what story will we tell the next generation about what we did to shape a better future for them during this time?

Written by London Moore (Director of Schools at Nova Pioneer – Kenya)

“Nobody knows how things will turn out, that’s why they go ahead and play the game…You give it your all and sometimes amazing things happen, but it’s hardly ever what you expect.” 

– Gennifer Choldenko

 

As we go through this historically significant moment, a lot of us across the world are grappling with how tomorrow will pan out. Without a doubt, from 15th March 2020, when His Excellency President Kenyatta issued a directive that would help us flatten the curve, a lot has happened behind the scenes within the greater Nova Pioneer community to ensure that our over 1800 students and families have received unequivocal support in ensuring their safety and well being is safeguarded. At the core of it, learning has continued for our students. Our academic team has worked within record time to ensure that all the necessary materials required for virtual learning have been availed and teachers have selflessly given their time to be there for our students so that they can overcome any learning gaps due to the lockdown. There has been a great show of fortitude across the community which has really helped us achieve a lot within the past few weeks.

 

What we’ve done so far..

 

As we continue to closely monitor and manage the situation, we are aware that there are hundreds of families who had already submitted and hundreds more continuing to submit their applications for 2021 enrollment across all our schools. The admissions team is committed to ensuring that we are holding your hands as you walk this journey. As it has always been, our admissions rounds remain open all year round and we are still able to answer questions you may have about how we are preparing our students for the future now, and what opportunities lay abound for your children at Nova Pioneer. It is indeed our intention to continue engaging with you through the following platforms:

 

• Instagram Live sessions with our alumni & current students to get more insights about their experiences
• Virtual Open Days on Zoom/Google Hangouts to learn more about Nova Pioneer and get next steps on our 2021 enrollment process
• Purposed visual content on Facebook and other social media platforms to give more insights about the Nova Pioneer community
• Bi-weekly email newsletters with more content from our official blog on how different members of our community are coping with C-19 and helpful tips that will keep you engaged.

 

How do I apply?

 

Take your first step to becoming part of our cohort of innovators and leaders who will shape the African century, apply to Nova Pioneer today.

Please feel free to engage with us on our official line 0703421670 and email address admissions.ke@novapioneer.com

 

Parents play a pivotal role in shaping the character of children as they grow towards adulthood. As a parent and teacher, I am convinced that the COVID-19 period presents the opportunity for parents to be engaged in the lives of their children like never before.

With schools closed, parents have had to take up the role of being both parent and teacher. At this time, most parents may feel like their space has been raided by their children and we are all trying to figure out how to balance between working from home and ensuring our children stay on track with their learning. We are all adapting to a new routine and as crazy and hectic it may seem, it is important that our children feel supported in their academics as this is also a new adjustment for them.

So how can parents support the education of their children during this time and even after schools re-open? Here are a few thoughts:

 

Maintain communication with the teachers

Every parent should develop a habit of keeping constant and continuous communication with the teacher(s) who engage with their children. With remote learning in place, it has become much easier for families to have one on one contact with teachers either through their work emails or work phone numbers. Use this time to schedule a virtual meeting with the teacher to catch up with your child’s progress. This not only shows your child that you care but also assures the teacher that you value what they are doing and that you are committed to supporting the benefit of your child. 

 

Share your personal school experiences

Parents should always create time to interact with their children and share their experiences both positive and negative during their days as students. Feel free to share their moments of glory as students and those painful moments that shaped them into the people they are. Such stories make children feel easy around their parents and will no longer look at them as superhumans that only lead perfect lives devoid of mistakes. This will, in turn, encourage the child to open up and share any academic challenges that they are encountering.

 

Monitor their academic progress

Now that the children are learning from home, parents have so much visibility into the lessons that happen in class. Spare some time and discuss lessons or assignments given. This is also a great opportunity to go through their academic reports with them and prompt questions on their performance on areas they need assistance on. 

 

Appreciate positive outcomes

Students who perform well will maintain their good results if they are regularly appreciated. Parents should devise a way of appreciating their learners every time they bring improved results home. This will continue to motivate them to work hard at all times and maintain high expectations. However, parents should be careful when rewarding good performance. They should make it very clear to their children that it is not a bribe to maintain good performance but rather an appreciation for doing well.

 

Listen to their needs and desires and support where necessary

Trying to rule your children with an iron fist may work only when they are still young but upon attaining the adolescent age, this may be a difficult road to travel. Parents should be open to their children and must demonstrate the commitment to supporting them in whatever way possible. Create opportunities for them to bring their thoughts onto the table and see how they can support them. Children who feel listened to by adults also grow up to be people who are considerate and accommodative of others.

 

Normalize failure

Successful people will always tell you that the best way to succeed in life is not to be afraid of failing. Normalizing failures and making it part of everyday life creates a safe space for learners to be innovative and risk-takers. Parents who encourage their children to constantly try new things without fear of being reprimanded stand a better chance of raising children into adults that are innovating and critical thinkers.

 

Written by Fred Ndhine (Lead Chemistry & Mathematics teacher at Nova Pioneer Boys Secondary School – Eldoret)